A hypothesis of synergism: the interrelationship of T3 and insulin to disturbances in metabolic homeostasis

Kim, S.R; Tull, E.S; Talbott, E.O; Vogt, M.T; Kuller, L.H

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Volume 59, Issue 6 , Pages 660-666, 12 November 2002

A hypothesis of synergism: the interrelationship of T₃ and insulin to disturbances in metabolic homeostasis

S.R Kim
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Correspondence to: S. R. Kim, 102 Woodshire Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15215, USA
E.S Tull
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
E.O Talbott
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
M.T Vogt
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
L.H Kuller
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Received 15 May 2001; accepted 11 January 2002.

Abstract

While the role of abnormal insulin homeostasis in the pathogenesis of Type-2 diabetes mellitus is well established, the importance of the canonical role of T₃ on Type-2 diabetes or the homeostasis of glucose, lipid, and energy balance has not been addressed. Based on the available evidence from molecular biology, the pivotal regulatory role of T₃ in major metabolic pathways and glycemic control can be delineated by mapping the specific action sites of T₃ and insulin on the metabolic pathways of the glucose–lipid cycle. The current paper presents an integrative hypothesis of the synergistic relationship of T₃ and insulin in metabolic homeostasis and abnormalities.