The role of insulin in the regulation of metabolism, cell growth, neural processes, and cell transitions in health and disease.

Our laboratory focuses on the roles of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins in health and disease. IRS2 signals are key to the proper action of insulin in the regulation of metabolism, cell growth, and central nervous system functions such as learning and memory. 

In 2019, our efforts centered on the validation and characterization of a new tool generated by Dr. Luke Noon: a reporter mouse model in which Irs2 expression can be monitored by GFP or luciferase activity. This new model will allow us to determine the spatio-temporal expression of Irs2 and to explore factors and drugs which may modulate its expression. We also published the novel observation that IRS2 promotes Fgf7 ligand and receptor (Fgfr2-IIIb) expression in the context of liver damage and repair. 

These new findings provided insights into the contribution of insulin resistance to the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease and suggest that IRS2 may regulate communication between cell types as well as transitions between stromal and epithelial repair phases.

Presentation

Get to know us better

Research Staff

The people who make it all possible

Deborah J Burks 
dburks@cipf.es

Amparo Galán Albiñana
agalan@cipf.es

Carlos Acosta Umanzor
cacosta@cipf.es

Esperanza Irles Vidal
eirles@cipf.es

Publications

Our scientific contributions

Genetic inactivation of the LIGHT (TNFSF14) cytokine in mice restores glucose homeostasis and diminishes hepatic steatosis
Herrero-Cervera A, Vinué Á, Burks DJ and González-Navarro H
DIABETOLOGIA, 2019 Nov,  DOI:  10.1007/s00125-019-4962-6,  Vol. 62,  pag. 2143-2157

Type 1 diabetic mellitus patients with increased atherosclerosis risk display decreased CDKN2A/2B/2BAS gene expression in leukocytes
Martínez-Hervás S, Sánchez-García V, Herrero-Cervera A, Vinué Á, Real JT, Ascaso JF, Burks DJ and González-Navarro H
Journal of Translational Medicine, 2019 Jul,  DOI:  10.1186/s12967-019-1977-1,  Vol. 17,  pag. 222-222

The influence of the lack of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) on the thyroid gland
Iglesias-Osma MC, Blanco EJ, Carretero-Hernandez M, Catalano-Iniesta L, Sanchez-Robledo V, Garcia-Barrado MJ, Vicente-Garcia T, Burks DJ and Carretero J
Scientific Reports, 2019 Apr,  DOI:  10.1038/s41598-019-42198-7,  Vol. 9,  pag. 5673-5673

Sequential testicular atrophy involves changes in cellular proliferation and apoptosis associated with variations in aromatase P450 expression levels in Irs-2-deficient mice
Catalano-Iniesta L, Sánchez-Robledo V, Iglesias-Osma MC, García-Barrado MJ, Carretero-Hernández M, Blanco EJ, Vicente-García T, Burks DJ and Carretero J
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, 2019 Feb,  DOI:  10.1111/joa.12917,  Vol. 234,  pag. 227-243

Insulin resistance disrupts epithelial repair and niche-progenitor Fgf signaling during chronic liver injury
F. MANZANO-NUNEZ, M. ARAMBUL-ANTHONY, A. ALBINANA, A. TASSIAS, C. UMANZOR, I. GASCO, A. HERRERA, J. VILA, D. BURKS and L. NOON
PLOS BIOLOGY, 2019 Jan,  DOI:  10.1371/journal.pbio.2006972,  Vol. 17,  pag. 

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