Reassessing the Role of Diacylglycerols in Insulin Resistance

Skeletal muscle (SM) insulin resistance (IR) plays an important role in the burden ofobesity, particularly because it leads to glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes.Among the mechanisms thought to link IR to obesity is the accumulation, in musclecells, of different lipid metabolites. Diacylglycerols (DAGs) are subject of particularattention due to reported interactions with the insulin signaling cascade. Giventhat SM accounts for the majority of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, this reviewintegrates recent observational and mechanistic works with the sole focus onquestioning the role of DAGs in SM IR. Particular attention is given to the subcellulardistributions and specific structures of DAGs, highlighting future research directions towards reaching a consensus on the mechanistic role played by DAGs