Pharmacological induction of mitochondrial biogenesis as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Defects in mitochondrial oxidative function have been associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes. Although the causal relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and diabetes has not been fully established, numerous studies indicate that improved glucose homeostasis achieved via lifestyle interventions, such as exercise or calorie restriction, is tightly associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative function. Therefore, it is conceivable that potentiating mitochondrial biogenesis by pharmacological means could constitute an efficacious therapeutic strategy that would particularly benefit those diabetic patients who cannot adhere to comprehensive programs based on changes in lifestyle or that require a relatively rapid improvement in their diabetic status. In this review, we discuss several pharmacological targets and drugs that modulate mitochondrial biogenesis as well as their potential use as treatments for insulin resistance and diabetes.