Enhanced insulin signaling via circulating ATG7: A potential therapeutic strategy for diabetes.

Abstract

Diabetes and insulin resistance (IR) remain major global health challenges, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we identify an autophagy-independent role of circulating autophagy-related gene 7 (ATG7) in metabolic regulation. Circulating ATG7 enhances insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis by directly interacting with IRS1 and modulating insulin signaling (IS) through liver-muscle crosstalk. Mechanistically, ATG7 binds to IRS1, promoting its activation and the propagation of downstream IS. Notably, we identify an ATG7-derived peptide (Aap2) that recapitulates ATG7's insulin-sensitizing effects and improves glycemic control in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic mouse models. These findings establish ATG7 as a key regulator of IS and suggest that targeting ATG7 may represent a promising therapeutic approach for IR and diabetes.