Liver Glucokinase: Decreased Activity in Patients with Type II Diabetes

J. F. Caro; S. Triester; V. K. Patel; E. B. Tapscott; Nancy Leggett Frazier; G. L. Dohm

doi:10.1055/s-2007-979899

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 1995; 27(1): 19-22
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979899

Originals Clinical

Liver Glucokinase: Decreased Activity in Patients with Type II Diabetes

J. F. Caro, S. Triester, V. K. Patel, E. B. Tapscott, Nancy Leggett Frazier, G. L. Dohm

Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Abstract

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Abstract

Because of the demonstration of a genetic linkage between glucokinase and Type II diabetes, and the central role of glucokinase on glucose metabolism, we studied glucokinase activity in the liver of patients with and without Type II diabetes. Glucokinase activity was decreased by about 50% in obese subjects with diabetes (n = 12) compared with (p < 0.01) lean controls (n = 9) and (p < 0.05) obese controls (n = 10). There was no difference between lean and obese controls. Fifty percent of subjects with diabetes had lower liver glucokinase activity than the lowest value of the controls. These data further support the important role that glucokinase plays in the pathogenesis of Type II diabetes.

Key words

Diabetes - Glucokinase - Liver - Obesity - Glucose

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