β-Arrestins: multifunctional signaling adaptors in type 2 diabetes.

β-arrestins are not only well-known negative regulators of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, but also important adaptors in modulating the strength and duration of cellular signaling by scaffolding and interacting with a lot of cytoplasmic proteins. While β-arrestins are rather well described signal-mediated molecules, they are not generally associated with insulin signaling. But recent work has confirmed the difference from original thought. The current review aims to explore the emerging roles for β-arrestins in regulating insulin action, inflammatory signal pathway and other cellular signaling which are associated with type 2 diabetes.