Scientists Discover Cellular Pathway for Insulin Release

Researchers from Uppsala University have identified a critical aspect of how our bodies produce insulin, perhaps paving the way for more effective future diabetes treatments. This study found that levels of the Epac2A protein compound are directly correlated to insulin release. By utilizing specialized microscopy techniques the research team was able to visualize the binding of Epac2A and cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) for the first time. This process was shown to be a primary pathway for the movement of Epac2A to the cellular membrane receptor sites which regulate granular insulin release [1]. This represents a deep insight to a before undescribed link between Epac2A, cAMP, and insulin release.

New Research Confirms Previous Ideas

Bear with me, as I try to distill some Science jargon into more friendly terminology. Past research has pretty well established a lot of the players (on a cellular level) that are involved in insulin release. There's a protein called Epac2A and a energy molecule called cAMP. This new research shows that cAMP helps get Epac2A to the outside of cells, where it then helps control the release of insulin. The takeaway here is that elevating cAMP directly affects insulin release. Again, previous research had hinted at as much, but the exact mechanisms weren't shown.

A Potential Natural Treatment

Forskolin is a herbal extract sold under the guise of promoting weight loss and boosting testosterone. As a weight loss agent, it's pretty ineffective, and the research behind such notions was largely sensationalized by marketers. There have be lots of studies that investigate Forskolins ability to increase cellular cAMP levels, though not many within the perspective of how it affects insulin release. This research by no means proves Forskolin (or other cAMP increasing compounds) to be effective diabetes treatments, but it does hint at the potential.

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