Targeting Diabetes and Novel Therapeutics

Biography

Biography: Jiankang Liu

Abstract

Insulin resistance is an important feature of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The underlying mechanisms of insulin resistance are still unclear. Mitochondrial dysfunction, including mitochondrial loss and over-production of oxidants, has been suggested to be involved in insulin resistance. Increasing evidence suggests that targeting mitochondria to protect mitochondria function could prevent and ameliorate various diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction to form a unique medicine, i.e., mitochondrial medicine. In this presentation, the author has summarized his recent studies with nutrients to target mitochondria by stimulating mitochondrial homeostasis to improve mitochondrial function and regulate redox balance for preventing and ameliorating diabetes. Emphasis was put on natural compounds from food and nutrition including olive, bitter gourd and pomegranate to regulate mitochondrial biogenesis and degradation in cellular systems and in animal models. The in vitro and in vivo studies on the effects and mechanisms of mitochondrial targeting nutrients or their combinations may help us to understand the importance and mechanisms of mitochondrial metabolism, and to develop mitochondria-targeting agents for preventing and treating diabetes.