Yongjiao Zhang,1,2 Xiaolei Xuan,2 Diwen Ye,1,2 Dong Liu,2 Yufan Song,2 Fei Gao,2 Sumei Lu2 

1School of Medical Laboratory, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Sumei Lu; Fei Gao, Email lsmqianyi@126.com; 448617003@qq.com

Abstract: Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is a protein encoded by the AIM2 gene located on human chromosomes, AIM2 can recognize and bind to double stranded DNA (dsDNA), leading to the assembly of the AIM2 inflammasome. The AIM2 inflammasome plays important proinflammation role in many diseases, and can induce pyroptotic cell death. It has also been closely linked to the development and progression of metabolic diseases and can be activated in obesity, diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and atherosclerosis. In this article, we mainly review the role of AIM2 in glucose metabolism, especially in obesity-related disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism, and provide insights to better understand the role of AIM2 in the pathogenesis, and clinical treatment of metabolic disease.

Keywords: AIM2, obesity, metabolic diseases, diabetes, glucose metabolism disorders