Last update:
13-Jul-2004

The mode of action of hormones and the intracellular signalling pathways comprise a continuous object of research, especially in the case of insulin, a hormone with a variety of systematic actions. Studies suggest that the elucidation of the tyrosine phosphorylation cascades was insufficient to explain the diversity of insulin effects and point to the implication of additional signalling mechanisms. There is a body of evidence involving the interaction of the insulin receptor, either directly or indirectly, with G-proteins and inositol phosphoglycans (IPGs). In this review the role of these two major secondary messengers in insulin signalling is analyzed and a novel insulin signalling pathway using tyrosine kinase, inositol phosphoglycan and G-proteins is presented with particular therapeutic reference to the treatment of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Key words: G-proteins, Ιnositol glycane, Insulin, Insulin resistance, Polycystic ovary syndrome.