Suppressed intrinsic catalytic activity of GLUT1 glucose transporters in insulin-sensitive 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Previous studies indicated that the erythroidtype (GLUT1) glucose transporter isoform contributes to basal but not insulin-stimulated hexose transport in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In the present studies it was found that basal hexose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was about 50% lower than that in 3T3-L1 or CHO-K1 fibroblasts. Intrinsic catalytic activities of GLUT1 transporters in CHO-K1 and 3T3-L1 cells were compared by normalizing these hexose transport rates to GLUT1 content on the cell surface, as measured by two independent methods. Cell surface GLUT1 levels in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes were about 10- and 25-fold higher, respectively, than in CHO-K1 fibroblasts, as assessed with an anti-GLUT1 exofacial domain antiserum, delta. The large excess of cell surface GLUT1 transporters in 3T3-L1 adipocytes relative to CHO-K1 fibroblasts was confirmed by GLUT1 protein immunoblot analysis and by photoaffinity labelling (with 3-[125I]iodo-4-azidophenethylamido-7-O-succinyldeacetylforskoli n) of glucose transporters in isolated plasma membranes. Thus, GLUT1 intrinsic activity is markedly reduced in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts compared with the CHO-K1 fibroblasts, and further reduction occurs upon differentiation to adipocytes. Intrinsic catalytic activities specifically associated with heterologously expressed human GLUT1 protein in transfected CHO-K1 versus 3T3-L1 cells were determined by subtracting appropriate control cell values for hexose transport and delta-antibody binding from those determined in the transfected cells expressing high levels of human GLUT1. The results confirmed a greater than 90% inhibition of the intrinsic catalytic activity of human GLUT1 transporters on the surface of mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes relative to CHO-K1 fibroblasts. We conclude that a mechanism that markedly suppresses basal hexose transport catalyzed by GLUT1 is a major contributor to the dramatic insulin sensitivity of glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.     

Differential regulation of two distinct glucose transporter species expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes: effect of chronic insulin and tolbutamide treatment.

The HepG2-type glucose transporter (HepG2-GT) is expressed in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes. In contrast, the acutely insulin-regulatable glucose transporter (IRGT) is expressed only in the adipocytes. In the present study, the expression of the IRGT was shown to increase in parallel with the acquisition of acutely insulin-stimulated glucose uptake during differentiation of these cells, whereas the level of the HepG2-GT decreased during the course of differentiation in parallel with a decline in basal glucose uptake. We examined the effects of chronic insulin and tolbutamide treatment on glucose transporter activity in conjunction with the expression of these two glucose transporter species in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Treatment of adipocytes with insulin, tolbutamide, or both agents in combination increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake, HepG2-GT protein, and HepG2-GT mRNA levels in parallel. The effect of combined insulin/tolbutamide administration on these three parameters was greater than the effect of either treatment alone. In contrast, these treatments either had no significant effect or decreased levels of IRGT protein and mRNA. We conclude that chronic treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with insulin or tolbutamide increases glucose uptake primarily by means of a selective increase in the expression of the HepG2-GT. We suggest that part of the in vivo hypoglycemic effect of insulin and sulfonylureas may involve an increased expression of the HepG2-GT.     

Stimulation of Na+/H+ exchange by insulin and phorbol ester during differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Relation to hexose uptake

Acute exposure of 3T3-L1 undifferentiated fibroblasts to insulin or 4 beta-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) produced a moderate but significant stimulation of hexose transport (100% stimulation). In differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, stimulation by insulin increased significantly (to 340%), while that by PDB remained at 130%. Total protein kinase C activity was 3-fold higher in 3T3-L1 fibroblast than adipocyte homogenates. PDB, but not insulin, induced migration of protein kinase C from the cytosol to the membrane, in both fibroblasts and adipocytes. Moreover, the hormone increased by 15% the protein kinase C activity of the cytosol. In 3T3-L1 fibroblasts, both insulin and PDB elicited a rapid (2 min lag) cytoplasmic alkalinization, measured with the fluorescent pH indicator bis-carboxyethyl carboxyfluorescein trapped in the cytoplasm. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, PDB but not insulin elicited the cytoplasmic alkalinization. The alkalinization was prevented by amiloride or by replacing Na+ with either N-methylglucamine+ or K+. Stimulation of hexose transport by insulin or PDB was not affected by amiloride or Na+ substitution. It is concluded that: 1) Insulin and PDB have different effects on protein kinase C activity and subcellular distribution; 2) the responses of Na+/H+ exchange and hexose transport to insulin and PDB develop independently during differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells; 3) stimulation of Na+/H+ exchange and of hexose transport occur in parallel rather than in series in 3T3-L1 cells.     

Antagonistic effects of a covalently dimerized insulin derivative on insulin receptors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

In the present study we describe the antagonistic effects of the covalently dimerized insulin derivative B29,B29'-suberoyl-insulin on insulin receptors in 3T3-L1 mouse cells. In differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the derivative fully inhibits binding of 125I-labeled insulin to its receptor with about the same affinity as unlabeled insulin. In contrast, the dimerized derivative only partially (approximately 20%) mimics insulin's effects on glucose transport and DNA synthesis in the absence of insulin. In the presence of insulin, the agent competitively inhibits insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis ([3H]thymidine incorporation into total DNA), glucose transport activity (2-deoxyglucose uptake rate), and insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. In rat adipocytes, in contrast, the dimerized derivative stimulates glucose transport (initial 3-O-methylglucose as well as 2-deoxyglucose uptake rates) to the same extent as insulin does, and it fails to inhibit the effect of insulin. The data indicate that the dimerized insulin derivative B29,B29'-suberoyl-insulin is an insulin receptor antagonist (partial agonist) which retains a moderate intrinsic activity. The effects of this agent reveal a striking difference in insulin receptor-mediated stimulation of glucose transport between 3T3-L1 fatty fibroblasts and the mature rat adipocyte.     

Berberine stimulates glucose transport through a mechanism distinct from insulin

Berberine exerts a hypoglycemic effect, but the mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, the effect of berberine on glucose uptake was characterized in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. It was revealed that berberine stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner with the maximal effect at 12 hours. Glucose uptake was increased by berberine in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes as well. Berberine-stimulated glucose uptake was additive to that of insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, even at the maximal effective concentrations of both components. Unlike insulin, the effect of berberine on glucose uptake was insensitive to wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Berberine activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, but PD98059, an ERK kinase inhibitor, only decreased berberine-stimulated glucose uptake by 32%. Berberine did not induce Ser473 phosphorylation of Akt nor enhance insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt. Meanwhile, the expression and cellular localization of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) were not altered by berberine. Berberine did not increase GLUT1 gene expression. However, genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, completely blocked berberine-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and preadipocytes, suggesting that berberine may induce glucose transport via increasing GLUT1 activity. In addition, berberine increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase phosphorylation. These findings suggest that berberine increases glucose uptake through a mechanism distinct from insulin, and activated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase seems to be involved in the metabolic effect of berberine.     

Indinavir uncovers different contributions of GLUT4 and GLUT1 towards glucose uptake in muscle and fat cells and tissues

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Insulin-dependent glucose influx in skeletal muscle and adipocytes is believed to rely largely on GLUT4, but this has not been confirmed directly. We assessed the relative functional contribution of GLUT4 in experimental models of skeletal muscle and adipocytes using the HIV-1 protease inhibitor indinavir. METHODS: Indinavir (up to 100 micro mol/l) was added to the glucose transport solution after insulin stimulation of wild-type L6 muscle cells, L6 cells over-expressing either GLUT4myc or GLUT1myc, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, isolated mouse brown or white adipocytes, and isolated mouse muscle preparations. RESULTS: 100 micro mol/l indinavir inhibited 80% of both basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake in L6GLUT4myc myotubes and myoblasts, but only 25% in L6GLUT1myc cells. Cell-surface density of glucose transporters was not affected. In isolated soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles, primary white and brown adipocytes, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was inhibited 70 to 80% by indinavir. The effect of indinavir on glucose uptake was variable in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, averaging 45% and 67% inhibition of basal and maximally insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, respectively. In this cell, fractional inhibition of glucose uptake by indinavir correlated positively with the fold-stimulation of glucose uptake by insulin, and was higher with sub-maximal insulin concentrations. The latter finding coincided with an increase only in GLUT4, but not GLUT1, in plasma membrane lawns. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Indinavir is a useful tool to assess different functional contributions of GLUT4 to glucose uptake in common models of skeletal muscle and adipocytes.     

Expression of a dominant-negative Ras mutant does not affect stimulation of glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis by insulin

Summary It has previously been shown that insulin-induced stimulation of glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis requires activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3kinase). Insulin also induces formation of RasGTP in cells and various studies have yielded inconsistent data with respect to the contribution of signalling pathways activated by RasGTP, to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. We have examined the requirement of RasGTP-mediated signalling for these insulin responses by expression of a dominant negative mutant of Ras (RasN17) in cells by vaccinia virus mediated gene transfer. This Ras-mutant abrogates the signalling pathways mediated by endogenous RasGTP. Subsequently, the ability of insulin to stimulate 2-deoxyglucose uptake and glycogen was examined. We observed that expression of RasN17 in 3T3L1 adipocytes did not affect the stimulation of hexose uptake by insulin. Similarly, expression of RasN17 in A14 cells, an NIH 3T3-derived cell line with high expression of insulin receptors, did not affect insulin-induced stimulation of glycogen synthesis. In both cell lines, insulin-induced phosphorylation of Mapkinase (Erk1,2) was abrogated after expression of RasN17, demonstrating the functional interference by RasN17 with signalling mediated by endogenous RasGTP. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of PBkinase, abolished dose-dependently the insulin-induced stimulation of hexose uptake and glycogen synthesis without an effect on RasGTP levels in both cell types. We conclude that stimulation of glucose transport and glycogen synthesis by insulin occurs independently of RasGTP-mediated signalling.Abbreviations DMEM Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium - ECL enhanced chemiluminescence - MAPkinase mitogen-activated protein kinase - PI3kinase phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase - IRS insulin receptor substrate - BSA bovine serum albumin     

Enhancement of glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by Toona sinensis leaf extract

The effects of substances extracted from Toona sinensis leaves, using 50% alcohol/water, on cellular [3H]-2-deoxyglucose uptake in differentiated cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes were investigated. Following treatment of cells with 0.001, 0.01, or 0.1 mg/mL extracts for 60 minutes, [3H]-2-deoxyglucose uptake increased from a basal value of 0.23 nmol/min/mg protein to 0.30, 0.33, and 0.38 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively. In insulin-stimulated cells, cellular [3H]-2-deoxyglucose uptake was enhanced by Toona sinensis leaf extract from a basal value of 0.35 nmol/min/mg protein to 0.41, 0.46, and 0.52 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Cellular glucose uptake was also enhanced by Toona sinensis leaf extract after incubation of cells with 20 mM glucose for 48 hours. Cellular glucose uptake with a combination of Toona sinensis leaf extract and insulin was significantly inhibited by pretreatment of cells with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C in normal-, medium- and high-glucose media. However, the glucose uptake-enhancing effect of Toona sinensis leaf extract was not diminished by cycloheximide and calphostin C in the absence of insulin. These results indicate that enhancement of cellular glucose uptake by Toona sinensis leaf extract in basal and insulin-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes may be mediated by distinct mechanisms.     

Indinavir inhibits the glucose transporter isoform Glut4 at physiologic concentrations

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative sensitivities of glucose transporter isoforms to the protease inhibitor indinavir and to determine the kinetic mechanism of indinavir-mediated Glut4 isoform inhibition. METHODS: The rate of 2-deoxyglucose uptake was measured in Xenopus laevis oocytes heterologously expressing mammalian Glut isoforms. 2-Deoxyglucose uptake was also measured in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and primary rat adipocytes. RESULTS: The sensitivity to inhibition by indinavir among the Glut isoforms as assayed in the X. laevis oocyte system was as follows in decreasing order: Glut4 > Glut2 > Glut3 > Glut1 approximately Glut8. 2-Deoxyglucose uptake measurements in insulin-stimulated primary rat adipocytes indicated a non-competitive mode of transport inhibition by indinavir under zero-trans conditions with a KI of 15 microM. CONCLUSIONS: Indinavir appears to be a relatively selective inhibitor of the Glut4 isoform. As the concentration required to significantly inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in primary rat adipocytes is well within the physiologic range achieved in therapy, we conclude that direct inhibition of Glut4 contributes to the insulin resistance observed in patients receiving this drug.     

Mechanism of insulin resistance induced by sustained levels of cytosolic free calcium in rat adipocytes

We have recently provided evidence that elevated levels of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in isolated rat adipocytes. To investigate the mechanism of Ca2+ action, we examined the effects of elevated levels of [Ca2+]i on insulin binding, autophosphorylation, and tyrosine kinase activity (TKA) of insulin receptors as well as basal and insulin-stimulated cellular distribution of glucose transporters. The latter was assessed by cytochalasin-B binding to plasma membrane and cytosolic fractions. Elevated concentrations of [Ca2+]i were maintained by incubating adipocytes with a depolarizing concentration of K+ (40 mM). Basal nonstimulated glucose uptake was not altered by increased levels of [Ca2+]i. Adipocytes with higher [Ca2+]i (220 +/- 15 nM) showed 30% reduction in insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake compared with control cells ([Ca2+]i, 140 +/- 18 nM). Moreover, adipocytes with higher levels of [Ca2+]i demonstrated an approximately 10% reduction in autophosphorylation and TKA of insulin receptors without a change in insulin binding. Both basal and insulin-stimulated distributions of glucose transporters were unaffected by sustained levels of [Ca2+]i. The effects of elevated [Ca2+]i were not mimicked by protein kinase-C activation. These observations suggest that 1) elevated or sustained levels of [Ca2+]i impair insulin-stimulated glucose uptake; and 2) Ca2+-induced impairment appears to reside at the postbinding steps of insulin action and probably interferes with the TKA of insulin receptors and the intrinsic activity of glucose transporters.     

Long-term regulation of hexose transport by insulin in cultured mouse (3T3) adipocytes

Summary Observations in vivo suggest that insulin acts as a long-term regulator of hexose uptake in fat cells. In the present study, we examined the long-term effect of insulin on hexose uptake in vitro. Exposure of fully differentiated mouse 3T3-L₁ adipocytes to insulin induced a time-, concentration-, and protein synthesis-dependent increase in basal 2-deoxyglucose uptake (up to 40%) and a decrease in the acute insulin response. The decrease in insulin effect was due to post-receptor alterations, since insulin binding was not substantially altered. The increase in basal 2-deoxyglucose uptake was due to an increase in the apparent V_max of the transport system rather than to the observed increase (30%) in hexokinase activity, since the concentration of non-phosphorylated 2-deoxyglucose inside the cell was far below the extracellular concentration. The increase in apparent V_max was most likely due to a protein synthesis-dependent increase in de novo synthesis of hexose transporters. Glucose was not essential for the effect. The mechanism responsible for the loss in insulin response remains to be solved. It can be concluded that insulin has the ability to act as a long-term regulator of hexose uptake in fat cells in vitro.     

Nitric oxide stimulates glucose transport through insulin-independent GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

OBJECTIVE: It is well known that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is expressed and that it modulates glucose transport in skeletal muscles. Recent studies have shown that adipose tIssues also express inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). In the present study, we investigated whether nitric oxide (NO) induces glucose uptake in adipocytes, and the signaling pathway involved in the NO-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. METHODS: First, we determined the expression of eNOS in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and then these cells were treated with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and/or insulin, and glucose uptake and phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and Akt were evaluated. Moreover, we examined the effects of a NO scavenger, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor or dexamethasone on SNP-stimulated glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation. RESULTS: SNP at a concentration of 50 mmol/l increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake (1.8-fold) without phosphorylation of IRS-1 and Akt. Treatment with the NO scavenger or guanylate cyclase inhibitor decreased SNP-stimulated glucose uptake to the basal level. Dexamethasone reduced both insulin- and SNP-stimulated glucose uptake with impairment of GLUT4 translocation. CONCLUSION: NO is capable of stimulating glucose transport through GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, via a mechanism different from the insulin signaling pathway.     

Stimulation of glucose transport by thyroid hormone in 3T3-L1 adipocytes: increased abundance of GLUT1 and GLUT4 glucose transporter proteins

In 3T3-L1 adipocytes we have examined the effect of tri-iodothyronine (T(3)) on glucose transport, total protein content and subcellular distribution of GLUT1 and GLUT4 glucose transporters. Cells incubated in T(3)-depleted serum were used as controls. Cells treated with T(3) (50 nM) for three days had a 3.6-fold increase in glucose uptake (P<0.05), and also presented a higher insulin sensitivity, without changes in insulin binding. The two glucose carriers, GLUT1 and GLUT4, increased by 87% (P<0.05) and 90% (P<0. 05), respectively, in cells treated with T(3). Under non-insulin-stimulated conditions, plasma membrane fractions obtained from cells exposed to T(3) were enriched with both GLUT1 (3. 29+/-0.69 vs 1.20+/-0.29 arbitrary units (A.U.)/5 microg protein, P<0.05) and GLUT4 (3.50+/-1.16 vs 0.82+/-0.28 A.U./5 microg protein, P<0.03). The incubation of cells with insulin produced the translocation of both glucose transporters to plasma membranes, and again cells treated with T(3) presented a higher amount of GLUT1 and GLUT4 in the plasma membrane fractions (P<0.05 and P<0.03 respectively). These data indicate that T(3) has a direct stimulatory effect on glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes due to an increase in GLUT1 and GLUT4, and by favouring their partitioning to plasma membranes. The effect of T(3) on glucose uptake induced by insulin can also be explained by the high expression of both glucose transporters.     

Insulin-sensitizing effect of rosiglitazone (BRL-49653) by regulation of glucose transporters in muscle and fat of Zucker rats.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of antidiabetic agents, are specific agonists of peroxisome proliferator activator receptor (PPARgamma). However, their mechanisms of action, and the in vivo target tissues that mediate insulin sensitization are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of glucose transporters (GLUT-1 and GLUT-4) in the TZD insulin-sensitizer action. The effects of rosiglitazone treatment were studied using Zucker (fa/fa) rats after 7 days of oral dosing (3.6 mg/kg/d). Rosiglitazone lowered (approximate 80%) basal plasma insulin levels in obese rats and substantially corrected (approximately 50%) insulin resistance based upon results from hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies. GLUT-4 protein levels were reduced (approximately 75%) in adipose tissue of obese rats and treatment with rosiglitazone normalized them. Interestingly, GLUT-1 protein content was increased in adipose tissue ( thick approximate 150%) and skeletal muscle (approximately 50%) of obese rats and treatment with rosiglitazone increased it even more by 5.5-fold in fat and by 2.5-fold in muscle. Consistent with these results, basal (GLUT-1-mediated) transport rate of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose into isolated epitrochlearis muscle was elevated in response to rosiglitazone. Incubation of fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with the drug for 7 days increased the levels of GLUT-1 protein, but did not affect GLUT-4 levels. In conclusion, rosiglitazone may improve insulin resistance in vivo by normalizing GLUT-4 protein content in adipose tissue and increasing GLUT-1 in skeletal muscle and fat. While the drug has a direct effect on GLUT-1 protein expression in vitro without a direct effect on GLUT-4 suggests that direct and indirect effects of rosiglitazone on glucose transporters may have an important role in improving insulin resistance in vivo.     

Corticosteroids as long-term regulators of the insulin effectiveness in mouse 3T3 adipocytes

Summary Since corticosteroid treatment is often accompanied by insulin resistance, we explored the role of corticosteroids in the regulation of the insulin effectiveness in cultured 3T3 (mouse) adipocytes. Exposure of the fat cells to dexamethasone or corticosterone (0–5 days) induced a time-, concentration-, and protein synthesis-dependent and reversible decrease in insulin binding and in basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake. The decrease in binding (50%) was primarily due to a decrease in receptor affinity i. e. to an increase in the rate of dissociation of insulin from its receptors, and was independent from the effects of pH and temperature on the affinity. The reduction in the 2-deoxyglucose uptake (30–50%) was due to a decrease in the hexose transport capacity rather than to a decrease in the phosphorylation component of the 2-deoxyglucose uptake process. Lineweaver-Burk analysis revealed the dexamethasone induced a decrease in the apparent V_max of the transport system i. e. in the number or activity of the hexose transporters. The effect of dexamethasone seemed to be superimposed on that of long-term insulin treatment, suggesting a different mechanism. It is concluded that corticosteroids act as long-term regulators of the insulin effectiveness by influencing the rate at which insulin dissociates from its receptors and by altering the number or activity of the hexose transporters by a common mechanism, which differs from that of the long-term regulatory effect of insulin.     

Activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway acutely inhibits insulin signaling to Akt and glucose transport in 3T3-L1 and human adipocytes

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has recently emerged as a chronic modulator of insulin-mediated glucose metabolism. In this study, we evaluated the involvement of this pathway in the acute regulation of insulin action in both 3T3-L1 and human adipocytes. Insulin rapidly (t(1/2) = 5 min) stimulated the mTOR pathway, as reflected by a 10-fold stimulation of 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Inhibition of mTOR/S6K1 by rapamycin increased insulin-stimulated glucose transport by as much as 45% in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Activation of mTOR/S6K1 by insulin was associated with a rapamycin-sensitive increase in Ser636/639 phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 but, surprisingly, did not result in impaired IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity. However, insulin-induced activation of Akt was increased by rapamycin. Insulin also activated S6K1 and increased phosphorylation of IRS-1 on Ser636/639 in human adipocytes. As in murine cells, rapamycin treatment of human adipocytes inhibited S6K1, blunted Ser636/639 phosphorylation of IRS-1, leading to increased Akt activation and glucose uptake by insulin. Further studies in 3T3-L1 adipocytes revealed that rapamycin prevented the relocalization of IRS-1 from the low-density membranes to the cytosol in response to insulin. Furthermore, inhibition of mTOR markedly potentiated the ability of insulin to increase PI 3,4,5-triphosphate levels concomitantly with an increased phosphorylation of Akt at the plasma membrane, low-density membranes, and cytosol. However, neither GLUT4 nor GLUT1 translocation induced by insulin were increased by rapamycin treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that the mTOR pathway is an important modulator of the signals involved in the acute regulation of insulin-stimulated glucose transport in 3T3-L1 and human adipocytes.     

Requirement for PIKfyve enzymatic activity in acute and long-term insulin cellular effects

PIKfyve is a phosphoinositide 5-kinase that can also act as a protein kinase. PIKfyve's role in acute insulin action has been suggested on the basis of its association with the insulin stimulatable phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and the ability of acute insulin to recruit and phosphorylate PIKfyve on intracellular membranes of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Here we have examined several classical insulin-regulated long- and short-term responses in insulin-sensitive cells expressing high levels of either active PIKfyve or kinase-dead mutants with a dominant-negative effect. Up-regulation of PIKfyve protein expression was documented in the early stages of differentiation of cultured 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes and a kinase-dead mutant, PIKfyveDeltaK, introduced into the preadipocyte stage profoundly delayed the hormone-induced adipogenesis. Next, insulin-induced mitogenesis was markedly inhibited in HEK293 stable cell lines, inducibly expressing the dominant-negative kinase-dead PIKfyve(K1831E) mutant but not in cells expressing PIKfyve(WT). Similarly, expression of the dominant negative mutants PIKfyve(K1831E) or PIKfyveDeltaK strongly inhibited insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, or GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake in Chinese hamster ovary T cells expressing the human insulin receptor. Expression of PIKfyveDeltaK and PIKfyve(WT) in Chinese hamster ovary T cells decreased or increased, respectively, insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 but not at Thr308. Furthermore, a powerful inhibition of PIKfyve was documented at a very low concentration (ID(50) = 6 micro M) of the cell-permeable kinase inhibitor curcumin. When introduced into 3T3-L1 adipocytes, curcumin markedly inhibited insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation and glucose transport. Together these data indicate that PIKfyve enzymatic activity functions as a positive regulatory intermediate in insulin acute and long-term biological responses and identify Ser473 in Akt as one potential PIKfyve downstream target.     

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulates glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes overexpressing PDGF receptor by a pathway independent of insulin receptor substrates

Insulin is unique among growth factors and hormones in its ability to control metabolic functions such as the stimulation of glucose uptake and glucose transporter (GLUT4) translocation in physiological target tissues, such as muscle and adipose cells. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying this specificity have remained incompletely understood, particularly in view of the ability of some growth factors to mimic insulin-dependent early signaling events. In this study, we have probed the basis of insulin specificity by overexpressing in hormone-responsive 3T3-L1 adipocytes wild-type platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor (PDGFR)-beta and selected, informative mutant receptor proteins. We show that such adipocytes overexpressing wild-type PDGFR on exposure to cognate growth factor activate glucose transport, GLUT4 translocation, and the serine-threonine protein kinase Akt/protein kinase B to a degree comparable with that produced in response to insulin. In addition, PDGF elicits the robust generation of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate in vivo in PDGFR-overexpressing 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Expression of PDGFR-beta mutant proteins demonstrates that these responses require the presence of an intact phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-binding site on the overexpressed PDGF receptor. Furthermore, PDGF stimulates these effects independent of insulin receptor substrate(IRS)-1 or IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation or docking to activated PI3K. These data demonstrate that 1) the basis of insulin-specific glucose transport in cultured adipocytes is the low level of receptors for other growth factors and 2) in the presence of adequate receptors, PDGF is fully capable of activating glucose transport in a manner requiring PI3K and subsequent phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate accumulation but independent of insulin, insulin receptor, and IRS proteins.