Amino acids at the intersection of nutrition and insulin sensitivity.

A systems network that is coordinated in the sensing and management of nutrient signals is paramount to energy homeostasis, and its dysfunction induces metabolic stress and insulin resistance. Amino acids have recently emerged as a collection of signaling metabolites that underlie the metabolic impacts of different dietary patterns and life styles. This relationship is beginning to be understood from the close coupling of immune and metabolic systems, and serves to enrich our understanding of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this review, we provide an overview of several amino acids or their metabolites that link nutrients with insulin sensitivity and discuss how they integrate into organ crosstalk pathways to influence physiological or pathological metabolic states.