Insulin resistance: beta-arrestin development

Insulin resistance is simply the inability of insulin to elicit a physiologic response. While insulin resistance is most commonly associated with the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes and obesity, it is also a predisposing factor to a number of other diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

It was found that beta-arrestin 2 and to a lesser extent beta-arrestin 1 are down-regulated in the liver and skeletal muscle of insulin resistance and type II diabetic mouse model. Additionally, both beta-arrestin 1 and 2 are down-regulated in the livers of type II diabetic humans. New data demonstrated that beta-arrestin 2 plays a crucial role in the downstream signaling of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), insulin receptor (InsR). 

It was hypothesized that beta-attestin 2 may have a role in insulin signaling and resistance. And there are hints that beta-arrestin 1 may function in a similar manner, beta-arrestin 1 may play a role in desensitization and turnover of the InsR and IGF-1R.