Mechanisms of TNFalpha-Induced Insulin Resistance in Retinal Cells

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed study will test the novel hypothesis that in the diabetic retina, hyperglycemia stimulates production of tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa), which in turn decreases insulin receptor binding leading to decreased signal transduction. The overall effect of this signaling cascade would be to create insulin resistance, exacerbate problems caused by limited insulin production in diabetes, and thus contribute to development of diabetic retinopathy seen in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. While our preliminary data and previous reports by others support a major role for inflammatory mediators such as TNFa in diabetic retinopathy, the pathways involved are largely unknown. Our proposed studies will focus on one likely candidate, the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) pathway (Fig.1), which is poorly understood in retina and yet represents a promising therapeutic target in future treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Our overall goal is to 1) establish the role of the SOCS3 pathway in regulating insulin signaling (through insulin receptor substrate-1; IRS-1) and apoptosis in normal and diabetic rats and 2) evaluate effects of upstream drug targets on the SOCS3 pathway and their downstream effects on insulin signaling and retinal cell apoptosis.