Investigation of the biological effects of the polyphenol resveratrol on insulin producing and insulin target tissues

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Polyphenols are compounds found in the skin of grapes and in high concentration in red wine. Many studies have shown that polyphenols have various beneficial health effects including protection against cancer and cardiovascular disease.  Insulin is a hormone that plays a major role in regulating the blood glucose levels. When the blood glucose levels are increased, insulin is released by the pancreas and through the bloodstream acts on liver cells inhibiting glucose production and release as well as on muscle cells causing them to take up glucose from the blood. The net effect of these insulin actions is to bring the blood glucose levels back to normal. Resistance to insulin in combination with decreased pancreatic function leads to type 2 diabetes. Elevated free fatty acids in the blood, as seen in obesity, have been shown to cause insulin resistance and pancreatic impairment.Work by our group and others indicates that polyphenols have antidiabetic properties. The long-term goals of our research program are to determine the effects of polyphenols on muscle, liver and pancreatic cells. These goals will be addressed using cells in culture and animals (rats) in vivo. The focus of our research for the next five years will be on the polyphenol resveratrol. Our hypothesis is that polyphenols act on skeletal muscle cells and liver cells to prevent insulin resistance and on pancreatic cells to restore insulin secretion. These studies will help us to understand the role of resveratrol in glucose homeostasis and to determine its potential in the treatment of insulin resistant states such as type 2 diabetes.