Key result
Insulin directly regulates cardiovascular health by stimulating endothelial synthesis of nitric oxide and endothelin-1, actions that are often impaired in states of insulin resistance and diabetes.
Understanding the direct molecular mechanisms of insulin on endothelial function provides insight into the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.
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Provides mechanistic insight into diabetes vascular complications; leaves open whether targeting endothelial insulin pathways improves outcomes.
A substantial body of evidence has reported that insulin has direct actions on the cardiovascular system independent of its systemic effects on plasma glucose or lipids. In particular, insulin regulates endothelial synthesis of the vasoactive mediators nitric oxide and endothelin-1, yet the importance of this in the maintenance of cardiovascular health remains poorly understood. Recent studies using animals with targeted downregulation of insulin signaling in vascular tissues are improving our understanding of the role of insulin in vascular health. This article focuses on the direct actions of insulin in cardiovascular tissues, with particular emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of insulin action on endothelial function. The potential contribution of impaired vascular insulin action to the cardiovascular complications of diabetes will also be discussed.
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Ian P. Salt (2012) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Insulin was evaluated. Insulin directly regulates cardiovascular health by stimulating endothelial synthesis of nitric oxide and endothelin-1, actions that are often impaired in states of insulin resistance and diabetes.
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