Persistent activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase causes insulin resistance due to accelerated insulin-induced insulin receptor substrate-1 degradation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Recently, we have reported that the overexpression of a membrane-targeted phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase (p110CAAX) stimulated p70S6 kinase, Akt, glucose transport, and Ras activation in the absence of insulin but inhibited insulin-stimulated glycogen synthase activation and MAP kinase phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. To investigate the mechanism of p110CAAX-induced cellular insulin resistance, we have now studied the effect of p110CAAX on insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 protein. Overexpression of p110CAAX alone decreased IRS-1 protein levels to 63+/-10% of control values. Insulin treatment led to an IRS-1 gel mobility shift (most likely caused by serine/threonine phosphorylation), with subsequent IRS-1 degradation. Moreover, insulin-induced IRS-1 degradation was enhanced by expression of p110CAAX (61+/-16% vs. 13+/-15% at 20 min, and 80+/-8% vs. 41+/-12% at 60 min, after insulin stimulation with or without p110CAAX expression, respectively). In accordance with the decreased IRS-1 protein, the insulin-stimulated association between IRS-1 and the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase was also decreased in the p110CAAX-expressing cells, and IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity was decreased despite the fact that total PI 3-kinase activity was increased. Five hours of wortmannin pretreatment inhibited both serine/threonine phosphorylation and degradation of IRS-1 protein. These results indicate that insulin treatment leads to serine/threonine phosphorylation of IRS-1, with subsequent IRS-1 degradation, through a PI 3-kinase-sensitive mechanism. Consistent with this, activated PI 3-kinase phosphorylates IRS-1 on serine/threonine residues, leading to IRS- 1 degradation. The similar finding was observed in IRS-2 as well as IRS-1. These results may also explain the cellular insulin-resistant state induced by chronic p110CAAX expression.     

Pathophysiology of insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is a feature of a number of clinical disorders, including type 2 diabetes/glucose intolerance, obesity, dyslipidaemia and hypertension clustering in the so-called metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance in skeletal muscle manifests itself primarily as a reduction in insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis due to reduced glucose transport. Ectopic lipid accumulation plays an important role in inducing insulin resistance. Multiple defects in insulin signalling are responsible for impaired glucose metabolism in target tissues of subjects with features of insulin resistance. Inflammatory molecules and lipid metabolites inhibit insulin signalling by stimulating a number of different serine kinases which are responsible for serine phosphorylation of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 (IRS-1).     

Crosstalk between insulin and angiotensin II signalling systems.

Insulin resistance and hypertension commonly occur together. Pharmacological inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system has been found to reduce not only hypertension, but also insulin resistance. This raises the possibility that the renin-angiotensin system may interact with insulin signalling. We have investigated the relationship between insulin and angiotensin II (AII) intracellular signalling in vivo using an intact rat heart model, and in vitro using rat aorta smooth muscle cells (RASMC). Results generated in the in vivo studies indicate that, like insulin, AII stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrates IRS-1 and IRS-2. This leads to binding of IRS-1 and IRS-2 to PI3-kinase. However, in contrast to the effect of insulin. IRS-1- and IRS-2-associated PI3-kinase activity is inhibited by AII in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, AII inhibits insulin-stimulated IRS-1/IRS-2-associated PI3-kinase activity. The in vivo effects of AII are mediated via the AT1 receptor. The results of the in vitro studies indicate that AII inhibits insulin-stimulated, IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase activity by interfering with the docking of IRS-1 with the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase. It appears that AII achieves this effect by stimulating serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit IRS-1, and the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase. These actions result in the inhibition of normal interactions between the insulin signalling pathway components. Thus, we believe that AII negatively modulates insulin signalling by stimulating multiple serine phosphorylation events in the early components of the insulin signalling cascade. Overactivity of the renin-angiotensin system is likely to impair insulin signalling and contribute to insulin resistance observed in essential hypertension.     

Molecular mechanisms of insulin action in normal and insulin-resistant states.

Insulin resistance is central to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. It has been known for some time that down-regulation and reduced kinase activity of the insulin receptor play a role in insulin resistance; however, it has recently emerged that defects in the intracellular responses to insulin are also very important. We studied the molecular basis of insulin resistance in mice in which injection with gold thioglucose led to the development of hyperphagia, obesity and insulin resistance over a 4-month period. We found that the insulin-stimulated activation of MAP kinase was defective in obese, insulin-resistant mice. Similarly, we investigated insulin-stimulated PI3-kinase activation in the isolated soleus muscle of lean and obese mice, and found a marked reduction in the PI3-kinase activation of obese animals. The magnitude of the effect was greater than the reduction in insulin receptor activation, suggesting that impairment of PI3-kinase activation is a very important element in the development of insulin resistance in obese mice. In keeping with this, we found that the defect in PI3-kinase activation developed in young obese mice before the emergence of overt insulin resistance. We investigated different mechanisms by which defects in the components of the insulin signalling cascade could emerge, including down-regulation and abnormal phosphorylation of signal molecules. In adipocytes from young obese mice in which insulin resistance had not yet developed, we found that there were already marked defects in IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Increased IRS-1 phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues affects tyrosine phosphorylation. Such a process could contribute to the defective IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation in insulin-resistant animals. We found that brief exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to platelet-derived growth factor led to IRS-1 serine/threonine phosphorylation through a PI3-kinase-dependent pathway, and that this prevented phosphorylation of the tyrosine residues of IRS-1. Such a mechanism, induced by growth factors, TNF-alpha or some other agent, may play an important role in the development of insulin resistance in obese mice.     

Rosiglitazone, insulin treatment, and fasting correct defective activation of protein kinase C-zeta/lambda by insulin in vastus lateralis muscles and adipocytes of diabetic rats

Atypical protein kinases C (PKCs), zeta and lambda, and protein kinase B (PKB) are thought to function downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and regulate glucose transport during insulin action in skeletal muscle and adipocytes. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport is defective in type II diabetes mellitus, and this defect is ameliorated by thiazolidinediones and lowering of blood glucose by chronic insulin therapy or short-term fasting. Presently, we evaluated the effects of these insulin-sensitizing modalities on the activation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1)-dependent PI 3-kinase, PKC-zeta/lambda, and PKB in vastus lateralis skeletal muscles and adipocytes of nondiabetic and Goto-Kakizaki (GK) diabetic rats. Insulin provoked rapid increases in the activity of PI 3-kinase, PKC-zeta/lambda, and PKB in muscles and adipocytes of nondiabetic rats, but increases in IRS-1-dependent PI 3-kinase and PKC-zeta/lambda, but not PKB, activity were substantially diminished in GK muscles and adipocytes. Rosiglitazone treatment for 10-14 days, 10-day insulin treatment, and 60-h fasting reversed defects in PKC-zeta/lambda activation in GK muscles and adipocytes and increased glucose transport in GK adipocytes, without necessarily increasing IRS-1-dependent PI 3-kinase or PKB activation. Our findings suggest that insulin-sensitizing modalities, viz. thiazolidinediones, chronic insulin treatment, and short-term fasting, similarly improve defects in insulin-stimulated glucose transport at least partly by correcting defects in insulin-induced activation of PKC-zeta/lambda.     

Regulation of IRS-1/SHP2 interaction and AKT phosphorylation in animal models of insulin resistance

Insulin stimulates tyrosine kinase activity of its receptor, resulting in phosphorylation of its cytosolic substrate, insulin receptor substrate-1, which, in turn, associates with proteins containing SH2 domains, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Pl 3-kinase) and the phosphotyrosine phosphatase SHP2. The regulation of these associations in situations of altered insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) phosphorylation was not yet investigated. In the present study, we investigated insulin-induced IRS-1/SHP2 and IRS-1/PI 3-kinase associations and the regulation of a downstream serine-kinase AKT/PKB in liver and muscle of three animal models of insulin resistance: STZ diabetes, epinephrine-treated rats, and aging, which have alterations in IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation in common. The results demonstrated that insulin-induced IRS-1/PI 3-kinase association has a close correlation with IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation levels, but insulin-induced IRS-1/SHP2 association showed a modulation that did not parallel IRS-1 phosphorylation, with a tissue-specific regulation in aging. The integration of the behavior of IRS-1/PI 3-kinase and with IRS-1/SHP2 associations may be important for insulin signaling downstream as AKT phosphorylation. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that insulin-induced IRS-1/SHP2 association can be regulated in insulin-sensitive tissues of animal models of insulin resistance and may have a role in the control of AKT phosphorylation, which may be implicated in the control of glucose metabolism.     

Mechanisms of hemorrhage-induced hepatic insulin resistance: role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Hemorrhage, sepsis, burn injury, surgical trauma and critical illness all induce insulin resistance. Recently we found that trauma and hemorrhage acutely induced hepatic insulin resistance in the rat. However, the mechanisms of this hemorrhage-induced acute hepatic insulin resistance are unknown. Here we report on the mechanisms of this hepatic insulin resistance. Protein levels and phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1/2 (IRS-1/2) were measured, as was the association between IRS-1/2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Also examined were the hepatic expression of TNFalpha and TNFalpha-induced serine phosphorylation of IRS-1. Insulin receptor and IRS-1/2 protein levels and insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor were unaltered. In contrast, insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1/2 and association between IRS-1/2 and PI3K were dramatically reduced after hemorrhage. Hepatic levels of TNFalpha mRNA and protein were increased as was phosphorylation of IRS-1 serine 307 after hemorrhage. Our data provide the first evidence that compromised IRS-1/2 tyrosine phosphorylation and their association with PI3K contribute to hemorrhage-induced acute hepatic insulin resistance. Increased local TNFalpha may play a role in inducing this hepatic insulin resistance after trauma and hemorrhage.     

A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mTOR pathway mediates and PTEN antagonizes tumor necrosis factor inhibition of insulin signaling through insulin receptor substrate-1

Tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) by the insulin receptor permits this docking protein to interact with signaling proteins that promote insulin action. Serine phosphorylation uncouples IRS-1 from the insulin receptor, thereby inhibiting its tyrosine phosphorylation and insulin signaling. For this reason, there is great interest in identifying serine/threonine kinases for which IRS-1 is a substrate. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibited insulin-promoted tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and activated the Akt/protein kinase B serine-threonine kinase, a downstream target for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). The effect of TNF on insulin-promoted tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 was blocked by inhibition of PI 3-kinase and the PTEN tumor suppressor, which dephosphorylates the lipids that mediate PI 3-kinase functions, whereas constitutively active Akt impaired insulin-promoted IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Conversely, TNF inhibition of IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation was blocked by kinase dead Akt. Inhibition of IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation by TNF was blocked by rapamycin, an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a downstream target of Akt. mTOR induced the serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 (Ser-636/639), and such phosphorylation was inhibited by rapamycin. These results suggest that TNF impairs insulin signaling through IRS-1 by activation of a PI 3-kinase/Akt/mTOR pathway, which is antagonized by PTEN.     

Overexpression of the dual-specificity phosphatase MKP-4/DUSP-9 protects against stress-induced insulin resistance

Insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes and obesity, is associated with increased activity of MAP and stress-activated protein (SAP) kinases, which results in decreased insulin signaling. Our goal was to investigate the role of MAP kinase phosphatase-4 (MKP-4) in modulating this process. We found that MKP-4 expression is up-regulated during adipocyte and myocyte differentiation in vitro and up-regulated during fasting in white adipose tissue in vivo. Overexpression of MKP-4 in 3T3-L1 cells inhibited ERK and JNK phosphorylation and, to a lesser extent, p38MAPK phosphorylation. As a result, the phosphorylation of IRS-1 serine 307 induced by anisomycin was abolished, leading to a sensitization of insulin signaling with recovery of insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, IRS-1 docking with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Akt phosphorylation. MKP-4 also reversed the effect of TNF-alpha to inhibit insulin signaling; alter IL-6, Glut1 and Glut4 expression; and inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Overexpression of MKP-4 in the liver of ob/ob mice decreased ERK and JNK phosphorylation, leading to a reduction in fed and fasted glycemia, improved glucose intolerance, decreased expression of gluconeogenic and lipogenic genes, and reduced hepatic steatosis. Thus, MKP-4 has a protective effect against the development of insulin resistance through its ability to dephosphorylate and inactivate crucial mediators of stress-induced insulin resistance, such as ERK and JNK, and increasing MKP-4 activity might provide a therapy for insulin-resistant disorders.     

Rescuing 3T3-L1 adipocytes from insulin resistance induced by stimulation of Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin/p70 S6 kinase (S6K1) pathway and serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1: effect of reduced expression of p85alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and S6K1 kinase

Phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) on serine residues has been recognized as a mechanism responsible for a diminution of insulin action and insulin resistance. Potential approaches to improve insulin sensitivity may include interference with and/or reduction in expression of certain signaling intermediates that participate in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. In this study, we transduced fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with a constitutively active myristoylated Akt that led to hyperactivation of mammalian target of rapamycin and p70 S6 kinase (S6K1), increased serine phosphorylation of IRS-1, and reduction in insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity and glucose transport. We then reduced expression of the PI 3-kinase regulatory subunit, p85alpha, or expression of S6K1 kinase using small interfering RNA transfections, which led to a reduction in p85alpha expression of 70% at 48 h (P < 0.05) and S6K1 of 49% (P < 0.05). Reduction in expression of either p85alpha or S6K1 achieved with small interfering RNA in the presence of myristoylated Akt rescued 3T3-L1 adipocytes from the insulin resistance induced by serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and completely restored insulin-stimulated activation of PI 3-kinase and glucose uptake. We conclude that reduction in expression of p85alpha or S6K1 could represent therapeutic targets to mitigate insulin resistance.     

Development of whole-body and skeletal muscle insulin resistance after one day of hindlimb suspension

Hindlimb suspension (HS) of rats is a model of simulated weightlessness and induces dynamic alterations in insulin action. In the present study, the effect of acute (1-day) HS on whole-body glucose tolerance and insulin action on skeletal muscle glucose transport was assessed in juvenile, female Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared to weight-bearing control rats, 1-day HS animals displayed significantly decreased glucose tolerance and diminished whole-body insulin sensitivity. Glucose transport activity in the 1-day unweighted soleus muscle was significantly decreased (P <.05) compared to weight-bearing control muscles both in the absence and presence of insulin (2 mU/mL). Insulin-mediated glucose transport activity in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles also tended (P =.09) to be lower. There was no change in the protein expression of insulin receptor beta-subunit (IR-beta), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), IRS-2, the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3-kinase), Akt, and glucose transporter protein 4 (GLUT-4). The activities of these proteins were also unchanged, as insulin-stimulated IR-beta tyrosine phosphorylation, IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, IRS-1-associated p85, and Akt serine phosphorylation were similar to controls. However, basal Akt phosphorylation was significantly depressed (P <.05) in the 1-day HS soleus. In addition, the protein expression and basal phosphorylation of the stress-activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) were significantly elevated (P <.05) in the 1-day unweighted soleus. These results indicate that the development of insulin resistance in the 1-day unweighted soleus is not due to impaired functionality of elements involved in the IR/IRS-1/PI3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway. However, activation of p38 MAPK may play a role in this response.     

In vivo insulin signaling in the myocardium of streptozotocin-diabetic rats: opposite effects of diabetes on insulin stimulation of glycogen synthase and c-Fos

Diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in laboratory rats leads to impaired glucose metabolism in the heart and changes in myocardial contractile protein isoform expression and cardiac function. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vivo insulin signaling responses in the myocardium of STZ-diabetic rats. Insulin rapidly stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and, to a lesser extent, IRS-2 in normal and diabetic myocardium. In diabetic rats, there was 2-fold higher insulin receptor content and insulin-stimulated receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in comparison with control rats. IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation also increased in STZ diabetes in spite of a decrease in IRS-1 content, resulting in a 4-fold higher ratio of phosphorylated to total IRS-1. This was associated with 2-fold higher IRS-1 precipitable phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase activity in diabetic animals. Insulin stimulation of glycogen synthase activity was significantly diminished in STZ diabetes, consistent with resistance to insulin in a step downstream from phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase activation. Under the same experimental conditions, there was a marked increase in insulin stimulation of myocardial c-fos messenger RNA content in diabetic animals in comparison with controls. These data demonstrate altered early steps in insulin signaling in STZ-diabetic rat myocardium. Consequent oppositely directed disturbances in growth regulatory and glucose regulatory responses to insulin may contribute to the development of myocardial functional abnormalities in this model of diabetes.     

MAP kinases and mTOR mediate insulin-induced phosphorylation of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 on serine residues 307, 612 and 632

Aim/hypothesis Insulin-induced IRS-1 serine phosphorylation could be physiologically important to regulate insulin action. In a hyperinsulinaemic state such as obesity or Type 2 diabetes, this phosphorylation could be modified and exacerbate insulin resistance. We aimed at identifying serine residues in IRS-1 phosphorylated in response to insulin stimulation and at determining the involved kinases.Methods 3T3-L1 adipocytes, muscle and adipose tissue of mice were subjected to Western Blot analysis with phosphospecific antibodies to identify phosphorylation sites in IRS-1 following insulin treatment. Pharmacological inhibitors were used to determine the serine kinases involved in this phosphorylation.Results In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, insulin promoted the phosphorylation of serine 307, 612 and 632 with Serine^612/632 more rapidly phosphorylated than Serine³⁰⁷. Insulin-induced phosphorylation of Serine³⁰⁷ was dependent on the activation of a PI 3-kinase/mTOR pathway. The phosphorylation of Serine^612/632 required the activation of the MAP kinase pathway following short-term insulin stimulation and activation of the PI 3-kinase/mTOR pathway following prolonged insulin stimulation. Phosphorylation of Serine³⁰⁷ and Serine⁶³² occurred in vivo in skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue of mice injected with insulin and was dependent on the activation of mTOR. Moreover, inhibition of mTOR led to a persistent PI 3-kinase activation by insulin.Conclusion/Interpretation Insulin-induced IRS-1 serine phosphorylation is a complex process involving different sites and kinases. This complexity could be physiologically important to accurately regulate insulin signalling. Abnormal phosphorylation of these serine residues in hyperinsulinaemic state could participate in the down-regulation of insulin signalling.Abbreviations PI 3-kinase phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase - mTOR mammalian target of rapamycin - APS adaptor with a PH and SH2 domains - Shc Src Homology Collagen - SH2 Src Homology 2 - PTB phosphotyrosine binding - MAP mitogen-activated protein - MEK mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase - PKB protein kinase B - PDGF platelet derived growth factor - JNK c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase - PMA phorbol myristate acetate - PIP3 phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 triphosphates     

Angiotensin II impairs the insulin signaling pathway promoting production of nitric oxide by inducing phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 on Ser312 and Ser616 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

It has been suggested that serine (Ser) phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) decreases the ability of IRS-1 to be phosphorylated on tyrosine, thereby attenuating insulin signaling. There is evidence that angiotensin II (AII) may impair insulin signaling to the IRS-1/phosphatydilinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) pathway by enhancing Ser phosphorylation. Insulin stimulates NO production by a pathway involving IRS-1/PI3-kinase/Akt/endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). We addressed the question of whether AII affects insulin signaling involved in NO production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and tested the hypothesis that the inhibitory effect of AII on insulin signaling was caused by increased site-specific Ser phosphorylation in IRS-1. Exposure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to AII resulted in inhibition of insulin-stimulated production of NO. This event was associated with impaired IRS-1 phosphorylation at Tyr612 and Tyr632, two sites essential for engaging the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase, resulting in defective activation of PI 3-kinase, Akt, and eNOS. This inhibitory effect of AII was reversed by the type 1 receptor antagonist losartan. AII increased c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 activity, which was associated with a concomitant increase in IRS-1 phosphorylation at Ser312 and Ser616, respectively. Inhibition of JNK and ERK1/2 activity reversed the negative effects of AII on insulin-stimulated NO production. Our data suggest that AII, acting via the type 1 receptor, increases IRS-1 phosphorylation at Ser312 and Ser616 via JNK and ERK1/2, respectively, thus impairing the vasodilator effects of insulin mediated by the IRS-1/PI 3-kinase/Akt/eNOS pathway.     

Selective interaction between leptin and insulin signaling pathways in a hepatic cell line

Leptin is a 16-kDa hormone secreted by adipocytes and plays an important role in control of feeding behavior and energy expenditure. In obesity, circulating levels of leptin and insulin are high because of the presence of increased body fat mass and insulin resistance. Recent reports have suggested that leptin can act through some of the components of the insulin signaling cascade, such as insulin receptor substrates (IRS-1 and IRS-2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), and mitogen-activated protein kinase, and can modify insulin-induced changes in gene expression in vitro and in vivo. Well differentiated hepatoma cells (Fao) possess both the long and short forms of the leptin receptor and respond to leptin with a stimulation of c-fos gene expression. In Fao cells, leptin alone had no effects on the insulin signaling pathway, but leptin pretreatment transiently enhanced insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and PI 3-kinase binding to IRS-1, while producing an inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation and PI 3-kinase binding to IRS-2. Leptin alone also induced serine phosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3 but to a lesser extent than insulin, and the combination of these hormones was not additive. These results suggest complex interactions between the leptin and insulin signaling pathways that can potentially lead to differential modification of the metabolic and mitotic effects of insulin exerted through IRS-1 and IRS-2 and the downstream kinases that they activate.     

Endurance training improves responsiveness to insulin and modulates insulin signal transduction through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-1 pathway

BACKGROUND: Endurance training increases insulin-stimulated muscle glucose transport and leads to improved metabolic control in diabetic patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of endurance training on the early steps of insulin action in muscle of rats. DESIGN: Male rats submitted to daily swimming for 6 weeks were compared with sedentary controls. At the end of the training period, anesthetized animals received an intravenous (i.v.) injection of insulin and had a fragment of their gastrocnemius muscle excised for the experiments. METHODS: Associations between insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrates (IRS)-1 and -2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) were analyzed by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Akt-1 serine phosphorylation and specific protein quantification were detected by immunoblotting of total extracts, and IRS-1/IRS-2-associated PI3-kinase activity were determined by thin-layer chromatography. RESULTS: Insulin-induced phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2 increased respectively by 1.8-fold (P<0.05) and 1.5-fold (P<0.05), whereas their association with PI3-kinase increased by 2.3-fold (P<0.05) and 1.9-fold (P<0.05) in trained rats as compared with sedentary controls, respectively. The activity of PI3-kinase associated with IRS-1 and IRS-2 increased by 1.8-fold (P<0.05) and 1.7-fold (P<0.05) respectively, in trained rats as compared with their untrained counterparts. Serine phosphorylation of Akt-1/PKB increased 1.7-fold (P<0.05) in trained rats in response to insulin. These findings were accompanied by increased responsiveness to insulin as demonstrated by a reduced area under the curve for insulin during an i.v. glucose tolerance test, by increased glucose disappearance rate during an insulin tolerance test, and by increased expression of glucose transporter-4. CONCLUSIONS: The increased responsiveness to insulin induced by chronic exercise in rat skeletal muscle may result, at least in part, from the modulation of the insulin signaling pathway at different molecular levels.     

Vanadate and rapamycin synergistically enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake

Tyrosine dephosphorylation, serine phosphorylation, and proteasomal degradation of insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) are implicated in the negative regulation of insulin action. Here we show that simultaneous inhibition of IRS-1 tyrosine dephosphorylation and proteasomal degradation synergistically augments insulin-responsive glucose uptake. L6 skeletal muscle cells (L6 cells) were treated with inhibitors of protein-tyrosine phosphatases, proteasomal degradation, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and the effects of insulin on glucose uptake, IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity, and IRS-1 mass were examined. Pretreatment of L6 cells with sodium orthovanadate (Na(3)VO(4)) plus the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin caused a 5-fold increase in insulin-responsive glucose uptake at 2 hours when compared to insulin alone. Evaluation of IRS-1 associated PI 3-kinase activity, IRS-1-associated p85 mass, and IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation showed that 2 hours after insulin addition they were reduced by 70% from maximal activity. Likewise, IRS-1 mass was reduced by 50%. When L6 cells were pretreated with Na(3)VO(4) plus the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 or the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin prior to insulin addition, IRS-1 mass loss as well as IRS-1/PI-3 kinase complex decay was blocked at 2 hours and PI 3-kinase activity was increased 2.5-fold and 4-fold, respectively, over insulin alone. Finally, treatment of L6 cells with subtherapeutic amounts of vanadyl sulfate and rapamycin induced a synergistic 3-fold increase in insulin-induced glucose uptake at 2 hours. These findings indicate that vanadium and rapamycin synergize to enhance glucose uptake by preventing IRS-1 mass loss and IRS-1/PI 3-kinase complex decay and may offer a new approach to enhance glucose transport in diabetes.     

Role of insulin receptor substrate-1 serine 307 phosphorylation and adiponectin in adipose tissue insulin resistance in late pregnancy

Insulin resistance is a hallmark of late pregnancy both in human and rat. Adipose tissue is one of the tissues that most actively contributes to this reduced insulin sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to characterize the molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance in adipose tissue at late pregnancy. To this end, we analyzed the insulin signaling cascade in lumbar adipose tissue of nonpregnant and pregnant (d 20) rats both under basal and insulin-stimulated conditions. We found that the levels of relevant signaling proteins, such as insulin receptor (IR), IR substrate-1 (IRS-1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1, ERK1/2, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) did not change at late pregnancy. However, insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of both IR and IRS-1 were significantly decreased, coincident with decreased IRS-1/p85 association and impaired phosphorylation of AKR mouse thymoma viral protooncogene (Akt) and ERK1/2. This impaired activation of IRS-1 occurred together with an increase of IRS-1 phosphorylation at serine 307 and a decrease in adiponectin levels. To corroborate the role of IRS-1 in adipose tissue insulin resistance during pregnancy, we treated pregnant rats with the antidiabetic drug englitazone. Englitazone improved glucose tolerance, and this pharmacological reversal of insulin resistance was paralleled by an increase of adiponectin levels in adipose tissue as well as by a reduction of IRS-1 serine phosphorylation. Furthermore, the impaired insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in adipose tissue of pregnant animals could be restored ex vivo by treating isolated adipocytes with adiponectin. Together, our findings support a role for adiponectin and serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in the modulation of insulin resistance in adipose tissue at late pregnancy.     

Mechanisms of insulin resistance in humans and possible links with inflammation

Insulin resistance is a major player in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, and yet, the mechanisms responsible for it remain poorly understood. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies in humans suggest that a defect in insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle is the primary metabolic abnormality in insulin-resistant type 2 diabetics. Fatty acids appear to cause this defect in glucose transport by inhibiting insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and IRS-1 associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. A number of different metabolic abnormalities may increase intramyocellular/intrahepatic fatty acid metabolites; these include increased fat delivery to muscle/liver as a consequence of either excess energy intake or defects in adipocyte fat metabolism and acquired or inherited defects in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Understanding the molecular/biochemical defects responsible for insulin resistance is beginning to unveil novel therapeutic targets for treatment of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.     

Insulin signal transduction and glucose transport in human adipocytes: effects of obesity and low calorie diet

AIM/HYPOTHESIS: We examined insulin signal transduction at the level of insulin receptor substrates (IRS) 1 and 2, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase and glucose transport in isolated subcutaneous adipocytes from obese and lean women. METHODS: Glucose transport and insulin signalling were investigated in isolated adipocytes from six obese women (BMI 36-43 kg/m(2)) (before and after 11 days of very low calorie diet) and from six lean women (BMI 22-26 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Insulin sensitivity of glucose transport was reduced in adipocytes from obese women (p<0.05), with further reductions in basal and maximal insulin-stimulated glucose transport after a very low calorie diet (p<0.05). In obese women, IRS-1 associated PI 3-kinase activity was markedly impaired (p<0.05), whereas, IRS-2 associated PI 3-kinase activity was normal. IRS-1 associated PI 3-kinase activity remained blunted after a very low calorie diet, whereas IRS-2 associated PI 3-kinase activity was increased. GLUT4 protein was reduced by 37% in obese versus lean subjects (p<0.05), and decreased further after a very low calorie diet (from 19+/-4 to 14+/-4 arbitrary units; p<0.05). CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: IRS-1 signalling to PI 3-kinase is a site of insulin resistance in adipocytes from obese women, whereas insulin action on IRS-2 is normal. Thus, IRS-1 and IRS-2 undergo differential regulation in adipocytes from obese insulin resistant subjects. Finally, a very low calorie diet is associated with a further impairment in glucose transport in adipose tissue. The defect in glucose transport after a very low calorie diet occurs independent of further defects in insulin signalling at the level of the PI 3-kinase.