Reported by ScienceDaily
Researchers have identified a protein that may play an important role in Type 2 diabetes by interfering with the body's ability to respond to insulin. The discovery could provide a promising new target for treatments designed to improve blood sugar control.
The protein, known as Miro1, was found at higher levels in the skeletal muscles of people with Type 2 diabetes. In preclinical experiments, scientists discovered that removing Miro1 restored the muscles' response to insulin. They also found that exercise lowered Miro1 levels in people with the disease, offering new insight into how physical activity improves insulin sensitivity.
The findings were published in Nature Communications and could help researchers better understand the biological processes behind insulin resistance, a central feature of Type 2 diabetes.
More from the original report
Miro1 (Mitochondrial Rho GTPase1) is located on the outer membrane of mitochondria, the tiny structures inside cells responsible for producing energy. Researchers believe that excessive amounts of this protein may interfere with how muscles respond to insulin, making it more difficult for the body to regulate blood sugar effectively.
To investigate this connection, the research team studied Miro1 in laboratory cells, preclinical models, and people living with Type 2 diabetes. By examining the protein across these different settings, they were able to explore its effects on muscle function and determine whether the findings could be relevant to human disease.
The results showed that Miro1 buildup impaired the muscles' response to insulin. When researchers removed the protein in preclinical models, insulin responsiveness returned, providing evidence that Miro1 contributes directly to this process.
The researchers also investigated whether exercise could influence Miro1 levels in people with diabetes. In a randomized controlled trial involving participants with obesity and Type 2 diabetes, they compared the effects of aerobic exercise with those of standard medical care.
People assigned to the exercise group experienced a decline in Miro1 levels in their muscles. These changes occurred alongside improvements in insulin sensitivity and the muscles' capacity to produce energy.
The findings suggest that reducing Miro1 may be one of the ways exercise helps the body respond more effectively to insulin. They also raise the…