Diabetes research: deciphering the mechanisms of insulin resistance
- Science and society
- Research
from October 27, 2025 to November 3, 2025
As part of World Diabetes Day on November 14, discover the research work of Jennifer Jager, Inserm researcher at the Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS), dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms behind obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Her research
At the heart of the MacP53 project funded by the French National Research Agency, Jennifer Jager is exploring the role of a little-known player in metabolism: the p53 protein and its non-coding RNAs in adipose tissue macrophages. These immune cells, essential to the body's energy balance, become dysfunctional during obesity, promoting inflammation and insulin resistance, one of the first signs of diabetes.
The p53 factor is mainly known for its role in protecting cells against stress: it is involved in the cellular stress response, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and therefore cancer prevention. However, recent research shows that p53 also has a role in metabolic regulation, particularly in the context of obesity and inflammation.
His objective:
-
Understand how p53 influences the function of adipose tissue macrophages;
-
Identify p53-regulated non-coding RNAs involved in metabolic imbalances;
-
Open up new therapeutic avenues for preventing or correcting insulin resistance and diabetes.
Promising results
Initial data from the MacP53 project are encouraging:
-
Inactivation of p53 in macrophages improves glucose tolerance in obese mice;
-
This modulation increases the oxidative capacity of cells and preserves the insulin response in adipocytes;
-
These results suggest that p53 may be a key target in the prevention of insulin resistance, and pave the way for future pharmacological strategies against type 2 diabetes.
His inspiration
"It was during an internship in a laboratory working on type 2 diabetes that I developed a great interest in this field of research. My grandfather suffered from the disease himself, so I was more familiar with it from the point of view of someone close to a patient. The idea that my work could contribute to a better understanding of the development of this pathology confirmed my decision to pursue a career in this field of research."
Committed to the dissemination of science
Convinced that popularizing science is essential, Jennifer Jager regularly takes part in the Fête de la Science, the European Researchers' Night and welcomes middle school students to her laboratory.
"Sharing our research with the general public gives meaning to our work, sparks vocations and shows that science is a collective project. "
Her emblematic object: a stuffed macrophage
To symbolize her project, Jennifer Jager has chosen a stuffed macrophage: a playful way of illustrating the heart of her research. These cells, found in adipose tissue, are at the heart of her work to understand how they participate in - or resist - the development of diabetes.
