Sirtuin 6, a possible therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes

Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), one of the seven members of mammalian sirtuin family, localizes in the nucleus and primarily regulates chromatin signaling and genomic integrity. Recent studies established the critical role of SIRT6 in the pathophysiology of metabolic disease, as well as its roles in longevity and cancer. These roles that were determined by genetic studies include promoting pancreatic insulin secretion, inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis and triglyceride synthesis, and suppressing adiposity, suggesting that SIRT6 activators are promising molecules for treating obesity and diabetes. In contrast, a recent study showed that a synthetic inhibitor of SIRT6 improved glucose tolerance in a type 2 diabetes mouse model, associated with increased glycolysis and the expression of glucose transporter GLUT-1 and 4 in skeletal muscle, providing proof-of-concept evidence of SIRT6 inhibition as a treatment for diabetes. This review summarizes the confounding findings on the role of SIRT6 in metabolic homeostasis and discusses the possible relationships of these findings as they relate to the use of SIRT6 as a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes and related diseases.