Hyperglycemia impairs the insulin signaling step between PI 3-kinase and Akt/PKB activations in ZDF rat liver

Akt/PKB activation is reportedly essential for insulin-induced glucose metabolism in the liver. During the hypoinsulinemic and hyperglycemic phase in the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat liver, insulin-induced phosphorylations of the insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1/2 were significantly enhanced. Similarly, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activities associated with IRS-1/2 were markedly increased in ZDF rat liver compared with those in the control lean rat liver. However, interestingly, insulin-induced phosphorylation and kinase activation of Akt/PKB were severely suppressed. The restoration of normoglycemia by sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT) inhibitor to ZDF rats normalized elevated PI 3-kinase activation and phosphorylation of IR and IRS-1/2 to lean control rat levels. In addition, impaired insulin-induced Akt/PKB activation was also normalized. These results suggest that chronic hyperglycemia reduces the efficiency of the activation step from PI 3-kinase to Akt/PKB kinase and that this impairment is the molecular mechanism underlying hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance in the liver.     

Acute selective glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibition enhances insulin signaling in prediabetic insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) has been implicated in the multifactorial etiology of skeletal muscle insulin resistance in animal models and in human type 2 diabetic subjects. However, the potential molecular mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood. Therefore, we determined if selective GSK3 inhibition in vitro leads to an improvement in insulin action on glucose transport activity in isolated skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant, prediabetic obese Zucker rats and if these effects of GSK3 inhibition are associated with enhanced insulin signaling. Type I soleus and type IIb epitrochlearis muscles from female obese Zucker rats were incubated in the absence or presence of a selective, small organic GSK3 inhibitor (1 microM CT118637, Ki < 10 nM for GSK3alpha and GSK3beta). Maximal insulin stimulation (5 mU/ml) of glucose transport activity, glycogen synthase activity, and selected insulin-signaling factors [tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR) and IRS-1, IRS-1 associated with p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and serine phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3] were assessed. GSK3 inhibition enhanced (P <0.05) basal glycogen synthase activity and insulin-stimulated glucose transport in obese epitrochlearis (81 and 24%) and soleus (108 and 20%) muscles. GSK3 inhibition did not modify insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IR beta-subunit in either muscle type. However, in obese soleus, GSK3 inhibition enhanced (all P < 0.05) insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation (45%), IRS-1-associated p85 (72%), Akt1/2 serine phosphorylation (30%), and GSK3beta serine phosphorylation (39%). Substantially smaller GSK3 inhibitor-mediated enhancements of insulin action on these insulin signaling factors were observed in obese epitrochlearis. These results indicate that selective GSK3 inhibition enhances insulin action in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle of the prediabetic obese Zucker rat, at least in part by relieving the deleterious effects of GSK3 action on post-IR insulin signaling. These effects of GSK3 inhibition on insulin action are greater in type I muscle than in type IIb muscle from these insulin-resistant animals.     

Infusion of beta-endorphin improves insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats.

In an attempt to probe the effect of beta-endorphin on insulin resistance, we used Wistar rats that were fed fructose-rich chow to induce insulin resistance. Insulin action on glucose disposal rate (GDR) was measured using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique, in which glucose (variable), insulin (40 mU/kg/min), and beta-endorphin (6 ng/kg/min) or vehicle were initiated simultaneously and continued for 120 min. A marked reduction in insulin-stimulated GDR was observed in fructose-fed rats compared to normal control rats. Infusion of beta-endorphin reversed the value of GDR, which was inhibited by naloxone and naloxonazine each at doses sufficient to block opioid mu-receptors. Opioid mu-receptors may therefore be activated by beta-endorphin to improve insulin resistance. Next, soleus muscle was isolated to investigate the effect of beta-endorphin on insulin signals. Insulin resistance in rats induced by excess fructose was associated with the impaired insulin receptor (IR), tyrosine autophosphorylation, and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 protein content in addition to the significant decrease in IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation in soleus muscle. This impaired glucose transportation was also due to signaling defects that included an attenuated p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and Akt serine phosphorylation. However, IR protein levels were not markedly changed in rats with insulin resistance. beta-endorphin infusion reversed the fructose-induced decrement in the insulin-signaling cascade with increased GDR. Apart from IR protein levels, infusion of beta-endorphin reversed the decrease in protein expression for the IRS-1, p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase, and Akt serine phosphorylation in soleus muscle in fructose-fed rats. The decrease in insulin-stimulated protein expression of glucose transporter subtype 4 (GLUT 4) in fructose-fed rats returned to near-normal levels after beta-endorphin infusion. Infusion of beta-endorphin may improve insulin resistance by modulating the insulin-signaling pathway to reverse insulin responsiveness.     

In vivo insulin signaling through PI3-kinase is impaired in skeletal muscle of adult rat offspring exposed to ethanol in utero.

It is now known that prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in rat offspring, but the underlying mechanism(s) is not known. To test the hypothesis that in vivo insulin signaling through phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase is reduced in skeletal muscle of adult rat offspring exposed to EtOH in utero, we gave insulin intravenously to these rats and probed steps in the PI3-kinase insulin signaling pathway. After insulin treatment, EtOH-exposed rats had decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit and of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), as well as reduced IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase in the gastrocnemius muscle compared with control rats. There was no significant difference in basal or insulin-stimulated Akt activity between EtOH-exposed rats and controls. Insulin-stimulated PKC isoform zeta phosphorylation and membrane association were reduced in EtOH-exposed rats compared with controls. Muscle insulin binding and peptide contents of insulin receptor, IRS-1, p85 subunit of PI3-kinase, Akt/PKB, and atypical PKC isoform zeta were not different between EtOH-exposed rats and controls. Thus insulin resistance in rat offspring exposed to EtOH in utero may be explained, at least in part, by impaired insulin signaling through the PI3-kinase pathway in skeletal muscle.     

Resistin inhibits glucose uptake in L6 cells independently of changes in insulin signaling and GLUT4 translocation

Elevated levels of resistin have been proposed to cause insulin resistance and therefore may serve as a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, its role in skeletal muscle metabolism is unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of resistin on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and the upstream insulin-signaling components in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells that were either incubated with recombinant resistin or stably transfected with a vector containing the myc-tagged mouse resistin gene. Transfected clones expressed intracellular resistin, which was released in the medium. Incubation with recombinant resistin resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake. The inhibitory effect of resistin on insulin-stimulated 2-DG uptake was not the result of impaired GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane. Furthermore, resistin did not alter the insulin receptor (IR) content and its phosphorylation, nor did it affect insulin-stimulated insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, its association with the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, or IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase enzymatic activity. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt/protein kinase B-alpha, one of the downstream targets of PI 3-kinase and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, was also not affected by resistin. Expression of resistin also inhibited insulin-stimulated 2-DG uptake when compared with cells expressing the empty vector (L6Neo) without affecting GLUT4 translocation, GLUT1 content, and IRS-1/PI 3-kinase signaling. We conclude that resistin does not alter IR signaling but does affect insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, presumably by decreasing the intrinsic activity of cell surface glucose transporters.     

Enhanced insulin action on glucose transport and insulin signaling in 7-day unweighted rat soleus muscle.

Hindlimb suspension (HS), a model of simulated weightlessness, enhances insulin action on glucose transport in unweighted rat soleus muscle. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that these changes in glucose transport in 3- and 7-day HS soleus of juvenile, female Sprague-Dawley rats were due to increased functionality of insulin signaling factors, including insulin receptor (IR), IR substrate-1 (IRS-1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), and Akt. Insulin-stimulated (2 mU/ml) glucose transport was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced in 3- and 7-day HS soleus by 59 and 113%, respectively, compared with weight-bearing controls. Insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IR and Ser(473) phosphorylation of Akt was not altered by unweighting. Despite decreased (34 and 64%) IRS-1 protein in 3- and 7-day HS soleus, absolute insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 was not diminished, indicating relative increases in IRS-1 phosphorylation of 62 and 184%, respectively. In the 7-day HS soleus, this was accompanied by increased (47%) insulin-stimulated IRS-1 associated with the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase. Interestingly, the enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose transport in the unweighted soleus was not completely inhibited (89-92%) by wortmannin, a PI3-kinase inhibitor. Finally, protein expression and activation of p38 MAPK, a stress-activated serine/threonine kinase associated with insulin resistance, was decreased by 32 and 18% in 7-day HS soleus. These results indicate that the increased insulin action on glucose transport in the 7-day unweighted soleus is associated with increased insulin signaling through IRS-1 and PI3-kinase and decreased p38 MAPK protein expression. However, PI3-kinase-independent mechanisms must also play a small role in this adaptive response to HS.     

Calorie restriction increases the ratio of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic to regulatory subunits in rat skeletal muscle

Calorie restriction [CR; 60% of ad libitum (AL) intake] improves insulin-stimulated glucose transport, concomitant with enhanced phosphorylation of Akt. The mechanism(s) for the CR-induced increase in Akt phosphorylation of insulin-stimulated muscle is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CR increased the ratio of catalytic to regulatory subunits favoring enhanced phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase signaling, which may contribute to increases in Akt phosphorylation and glucose transport in insulin-stimulated muscles. We measured the PI 3-kinase regulatory (p85alpha/beta, p50alpha, and p55alpha) and catalytic (p110) subunits abundance in skeletal muscle from male F344B/N rats after 8 wk of AL or CR treatment. In CR compared with AL muscles, regulatory isoforms, p50alpha and p55alpha abundance were approximately 40% lower (P < 0.01) with unchanged p85alpha/beta levels. There was no diet-related change in catalytic subunit abundance. Despite lower IRS-1 levels ( approximately 35%) for CR vs. AL, IRS-1-p110 association in insulin-stimulated muscles was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced by approximately 50%. Downstream of PI 3-kinase, CR compared with AL significantly enhanced Akt serine phosphorylation by 1.5-fold higher (P = 0.01) and 3-O-methylglucose transport by approximately 20% in muscles incubated with insulin. The increased ratio of PI 3-kinase catalytic to regulatory subunits favors enhanced insulin signaling, which likely contributes to greater Akt phosphorylation and improved insulin sensitivity associated with CR in skeletal muscle.     

Myricetin, a naturally occurring flavonol, ameliorates insulin resistance induced by a high-fructose diet in rats

The present study was conducted to explore the effects of myricetin on insulin resistance in rats fed for 6 weeks with a diet containing 60% fructose. Repeated intravenous (i.v.) injection of myricetin (1 mg/kg per injection, 3 times daily) for 14 days was found to significantly decrease the high glucose and triglyceride levels in plasma of fructose chow-fed rats. Also, the higher degree of insulin resistance in fructose chow-fed rats as measured by homeostasis model assessment of basal insulin resistance was significantly decreased by myricetin treatment. Myricetin increased the whole-body insulin sensitivity in fructose chow-fed rats, as evidenced by the marked elevation of composite whole-body insulin sensitivity index during the oral glucose tolerance test. Myricetin was found to reverse the defect in expression of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) in soleus muscle of fructose chow-fed rats under the basal state, despite the protein expression of insulin receptor (IR). Increased basal phosphorylation of IR and IRS-1 as well as Akt was observed in parallel. The reduced level of insulin action on phosphorylation of IR, IRS-1 and Akt in soleus muscle of fructose chow-fed rats was reversed by myricetin treatment. Furthermore, myricetin treatment improved the defective insulin action on the translocation of glucose transporter subtype 4 (GLUT 4) in insulin-resistant soleus muscle. These findings indicate that myricetin improves insulin sensitivity through the enhancement of insulin action on IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase and GLUT 4 activity in soleus muscles of animals exhibiting insulin resistance.     

Inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain in the brain of rats after hepatic failure induced by acetaminophen

To explore the effect of LYRM1 over-expression on basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in rat skeletal muscle cells, and to understand the underlying mechanisms, Rat myoblasts (L6) transfected with either an empty expression vector (pcDNA3.1Myc/His B) or a LYRM1 expression vector were differentiated into myotubes. Glucose uptake was determined by measuring 2-deoxy-D-[(3)H] glucose uptake into L6 myotubes. Western blotting was performed to assess the translocation of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). It was also used to measure the phosphorylation and total protein contents of insulin-signaling proteins, such as the insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) p85, Akt, ERK1/2, P38, and JNK. LYRM1 over-expression in L6 myotubes reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and impaired insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. It also diminished insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, PI3K (p85), and serine phosphorylation of Akt without affecting the phosphorylation of IR, ERK1/2, P38, and JNK. LYRM1 regulates the function of IRS-1, PI3K, and Akt, and decreases GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in response to insulin. These observations highlight the potential role of LYRM1 in glucose homeostasis and possibly in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes related to obesity.     

Alpha-lipoic acid mitigates insulin resistance in Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Impaired glucose uptake and metabolism by peripheral tissues is a common feature in both type I and type II diabetes mellitus. This phenomenon was examined in the context of oxidative stress and the early events within the insulin signalling pathway using soleus muscles derived from non-obese, insulin-resistant type II diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a well-known genetic rat model for human type II diabetes. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport was impaired in soleus muscle from GK rats. Oxidative and non-oxidative glucose disposal pathways represented by glucose oxidation and glycogen synthesis in soleus muscles of GK rats appear to be resistant to the action of insulin when compared to their corresponding control values. These diabetes-related abnormalities in glucose disposal were associated with a marked diminution in the insulin-mediated enhancement of protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1)-associated phosphatidylinostol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activities; these two kinases are key elements in the insulin signalling pathway. Moreover, heightened state of oxidative stress, as indicated by protein bound carbonyl content, was evident in soleus muscle of GK diabetic rats. Chronic administration of the hydrophobic/hydrophilic antioxidant alpha -lipoic-acid (ALA, 100 mg/kg, i.p.) partly ameliorated the diabetes-related deficit in glucose metabolism, protein oxidation as well as the activation by insulin of the various steps of the insulin signalling pathway, including the enzymes Akt/PKB and PI-3 kinase. Overall, the current investigation illuminates the concept that oxidative stress may indeed be involved in the pathogenesis of certain types of insulin resistance. It also harmonizes with the notion of including potent antioxidants such as ALA in the armamentarium of antidiabetic therapy.     

IRS-4 mediates protein kinase B signaling during insulin stimulation without promoting antiapoptosis

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins are tyrosine phosphorylated and mediate multiple signals during activation of the receptors for insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and various cytokines. In order to distinguish common and unique functions of IRS-1, IRS-2, and IRS-4, we expressed them individually in 32D myeloid progenitor cells containing the human insulin receptor (32D(IR)). Insulin promoted the association of Grb-2 with IRS-1 and IRS-4, whereas IRS-2 weakly bound Grb-2; consequently, IRS-1 and IRS-4 enhanced insulin-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. During insulin stimulation, IRS-1 and IRS-2 strongly bound p85alpha/beta, which activated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt, and p70(s6k), and promoted the phosphorylation of BAD. IRS-4 also promoted the activation of PKB/Akt and BAD phosphorylation during insulin stimulation; however, it weakly bound or activated p85-associated PI 3-kinase and failed to mediate the activation of p70(s6k). Insulin strongly inhibited apoptosis of interleukin-3 (IL-3)-deprived 32D(IR) cells expressing IRS-1 or IRS-2 but failed to inhibit apoptosis of cells expressing IRS-4. Consequently, 32D(IR) cells expressing IRS-4 proliferated slowly during insulin stimulation. Thus, the activation of PKB/Akt and BAD phosphorylation might not be sufficient to inhibit the apoptosis of IL-3-deprived 32D(IR) cells unless p85-associated PI 3-kinase or p70(s6k) are strongly activated.     

Tissue-specific regulation of IRS-2/PI 3-kinase association in aged rats

We have examined the insulin-stimulated IRS-2 association with PI 3-kinase and the phosphorylation of AKT/PKB, which is functionally located downstream of the PI 3-kinase, in aged (obese) rats. The IRS-2 protein levels were similar in 2 and 20 month-old rats in both tissues, liver and muscle. There were reductions in insulin-induced IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation in liver and muscle, accompanied by a decrease in IRS-2/PI 3-kinase association and in AKT/PKB phosphorylation only in muscle tissue of aged rats. This regulation may be important in the altered glucose metabolism observed in aged (obese) rats.     

A high-fructose diet impairs Akt and PKCzeta phosphorylation and GLUT4 translocation in rat skeletal muscle.

The molecular mechanism of insulin resistance induced by high-fructose feeding is not fully understood. The present study investigated the role of downstream signaling molecules of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in the insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle of high-fructose-fed rats. Rats were divided into chow-fed and fructose-fed groups. The results of the euglycemic clamp study (insulin infusion rates: 6 mU/kg BW/min) showed a significant decrease in the glucose infusion rate (GIR) and the metabolic clearance rate of glucose (MCR) in fructose-fed rats compared with chow-fed rats. In skeletal muscle removed immediately after the clamp procedure, high-fructose feeding did not alter protein levels of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), protein kinase C zeta (PKCzeta), or glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). However, insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and PKCzeta and GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane were reduced. Our findings suggest that insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats is associated with impaired Akt and PKCzeta activation and GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle.     

Calorie restriction prevents the development of insulin resistance and impaired insulin signaling in skeletal muscle of ovariectomized rats

Insulin resistance of skeletal muscle glucose transport due to prolonged loss of ovarian function in ovariectomized (OVX) rats is accompanied by other features of the metabolic syndrome and may be confounded by increased calorie consumption. In this study, we investigated the role of calorie consumption in the development of insulin resistance in OVX rats. In addition, we examined the cellular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle insulin resistance in OVX rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX) or sham-operated (SHAM). OVX rats either had free access to food, pair feeding (PF) with SHAM or received a 35% reduction in food intake (calorie restriction; CR) for 12weeks. Compared with SHAM, ovariectomy induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance, which was associated with decreases (32-70%) in tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), IRS-1 associated p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), and Akt Ser(473) phosphorylation whereas insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1 Ser(307), SAPK/JNK Thr(183)/Tyr(185), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Thr(180)/Tyr(182) was increased (24-62%). PF improved the serum lipid profile but did not restore insulin-stimulated glucose transport, indicating that insulin resistance in OVX rats is a consequence of ovarian hormone deprivation. In contrast, impaired insulin sensitivity and defective insulin signaling were not observed in the skeletal muscle of OVX+CR rats. Therefore, we provide evidence for the first time that CR effectively prevents the development of insulin resistance and impaired insulin signaling in the skeletal muscle of OVX rats.     

Burn injury impairs insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB activation in skeletal muscle

The molecular bases underlying burn- or critical illness-induced insulin resistance still remain unclarified. Muscle protein catabolism is a ubiquitous feature of critical illness. Akt/PKB plays a central role in the metabolic actions of insulin and is a pivotal regulator of hypertrophy and atrophy of skeletal muscle. We therefore examined the effects of burn injury on insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB activation in skeletal muscle. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt/PKB was significantly attenuated in burned compared with sham-burned rats. Insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB kinase activity, as judged by immune complex kinase assay and phosphorylation status of the endogenous substrate of Akt/PKB, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), was significantly impaired in burned rats. Furthermore, insulin consistently failed to increase the phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase, another downstream effector of Akt/PKB, in rats with burn injury, whereas phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase was increased by insulin in controls. The protein expression of Akt/PKB, GSK-3beta, and p70 S6 kinase was unaltered by burn injury. However, insulin-stimulated activation of ERK, a signaling pathway parallel to Akt/PKB, was not affected by burn injury. These results demonstrate that burn injury impairs insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB activation in skeletal muscle and suggest that attenuated Akt/PKB activation may be involved in deranged metabolism and muscle wasting observed after burn injury.     

Phorbol esters affect skeletal muscle glucose transport in a fiber type-specific manner

Recent evidence has shown that activation of lipid-sensitive protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms leads to skeletal muscle insulin resistance. However, earlier studies demonstrated that phorbol esters increase glucose transport in skeletal muscle. The purpose of the present study was to try to resolve this discrepancy. Treatment with the phorbol ester 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate 20-acetate (dPPA) led to an approximately 3.5-fold increase in glucose transport in isolated fast-twitch epitrochlearis and flexor digitorum brevis muscles. Phorbol ester treatment was additive to a maximally effective concentration of insulin in fast-twitch skeletal muscles. Treatment with dPPA did not affect insulin signaling in the epitrochlearis. In contrast, phorbol esters had no effect on basal glucose transport and inhibited maximally insulin-stimulated glucose transport approximately 50% in isolated slow-twitch soleus muscle. Furthermore, dPPA treatment inhibited the insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and the threonine and serine phosphorylation of PKB by approximately 50% in the soleus. dPPA treatment also caused serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in the slow-twitch soleus muscle. In conclusion, our results show that phorbol esters stimulate glucose transport in fast-twitch skeletal muscles and inhibit insulin signaling in slow-twitch soleus muscle of rats. These findings suggest that mechanisms other than PKC activation mediate lipotoxicity-induced whole body insulin resistance.     

Defective insulin signaling in skeletal muscle of the hypertensive TG(mREN2)27 rat

Essential hypertension is frequently associated with insulin resistance of skeletal muscle glucose transport, with a potential role of angiotensin II in the pathogenesis of both conditions. The male heterozygous TG(mREN2)27 rat harbors the mouse transgene for renin, exhibits local elevations in angiotensin II, and is an excellent model of both hypertension and insulin resistance. The present study was designed to investigate the potential cellular mechanisms for insulin resistance in this hypertensive animal model, including an assessment of elements of the insulin-signaling pathway. Compared with nontransgenic, normotensive Sprague-Dawley control rats, male heterozygous TG(mREN2)27 rats displayed elevated (P < 0.05) fasting plasma insulin (74%), an exaggerated insulin response (108%) during an oral glucose tolerance test, and reduced whole body insulin sensitivity. TG(mREN2)27 rats also exhibited decreased insulin-mediated glucose transport and glycogen synthase activation in both the type IIb epitrochlearis (30 and 46%) and type I soleus (22 and 64%) muscles. Importantly, there were significant reductions (approximately 30-50%) in insulin stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), IRS-1 associated with the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt Ser473 phosphorylation, and Ser9 phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta in epitrochlearis and soleus muscles of TG(mREN2)27 rats. Soleus muscle triglyceride concentration was 25% greater in the transgenic group compared with nontransgenic animals. Collectively, these data provide the first evidence that the insulin resistance of the hypertensive male heterozygous TG(mREN2)27 rat can be attributed to specific defects in the insulin-signaling pathway in skeletal muscle.     

Lactate induces insulin resistance in skeletal muscle by suppressing glycolysis and impairing insulin signaling

Elevation of plasma lactate levels induces peripheral insulin resistance, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We examined whether lactate infusion in rats suppresses glycolysis preceding insulin resistance and whether lactate-induced insulin resistance is accompanied by altered insulin signaling and/or insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle. Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps were conducted for 6 h in conscious, overnight-fasted rats with or without lactate infusion (120 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) during the final 3.5 h. Lactate infusion increased plasma lactate levels about fourfold. The elevation of plasma lactate had rapid effects to suppress insulin-stimulated glycolysis, which clearly preceded its effect to decrease insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Both submaximal and maximal insulin-stimulated glucose transport decreased 25-30% (P < 0.05) in soleus but not in epitrochlearis muscles of lactate-infused rats. Lactate infusion did not alter insulin's ability to phosphorylate the insulin receptor, the insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, or IRS-2 but decreased insulin's ability to stimulate IRS-1- and IRS-2-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activities and Akt/protein kinase B activity by 47, 75, and 55%, respectively (P < 0.05 for all). In conclusion, elevation of plasma lactate suppressed glycolysis before its effect on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, consistent with the hypothesis that suppression of glucose metabolism could precede and cause insulin resistance. In addition, lactate-induced insulin resistance was associated with impaired insulin signaling and decreased insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle.     

Role of Rho-kinase in regulation of insulin action and glucose homeostasis

Accumulating evidence indicates an important role for serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in the regulation of insulin action. Recent studies suggest that Rho-kinase (ROK) is a mediator of insulin signaling, via interaction with IRS-1. Here we show that insulin stimulation of glucose transport is impaired when ROK is chemically or biologically inhibited in cultured adipocytes and myotubes and in isolated soleus muscle ex vivo. Inactivation of ROK also reduces insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI3K activity. Moreover, inhibition of ROK activity in mice causes insulin resistance by reducing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle in vivo. Mass spectrometry analysis identifies IRS-1 Ser632/635 as substrates of ROK in vitro, and mutation of these sites inhibits insulin signaling. These results strongly suggest that ROK regulates insulin-stimulated glucose transport in vitro and in vivo. Thus, ROK is an important regulator of insulin signaling and glucose metabolism.     

The high-fat-fed lean Zucker rat: a spontaneous isocaloric model of fat-induced insulin resistance associated with muscle GSK-3 overactivity

High-fat feeding (HFF) is a well-accepted model for nutritionally-induced insulin resistance. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the metabolic responses of female lean Zucker rats provided regular chow (4% fat) or a high-fat chow (50% fat) for 15 wk. HFF rats spontaneously adjusted food intake so that daily caloric intake matched that of chow-fed (CF) controls. HFF animals consumed more (P < 0.05) calories from fat (31.9 +/- 1.2 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.2 kcal/day) and had significantly greater final body weights (280 +/- 10 vs. 250 +/- 5 g) and total visceral fat (24 +/- 3 vs. 10 +/- 1 g). Fasting plasma insulin was 2.3-fold elevated in HFF rats. Glucose tolerance (58%) and whole body insulin sensitivity (75%) were markedly impaired in HFF animals. In HFF plantaris muscle, in vivo insulin receptor beta-subunit (IR-beta) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphorylation of Akt Ser473 and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) Ser9, relative to circulating insulin levels, were decreased by 40-59%. In vitro insulin-stimulated glucose transport in HFF soleus was decreased by 54%, as were IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation (26%) and phosphorylation of Akt Ser473 (38%) and GSK-3beta Ser9 (25%), the latter indicative of GSK-3 overactivity. GSK-3 inhibition in HFF soleus using CT98014 increased insulin-stimulated glucose transport (28%), IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation (28%) and phosphorylation of Akt Ser473 (38%) and GSK-3beta Ser9 (48%). In summary, the female lean Zucker rat fed a high-fat diet represents an isocaloric model of nutritionally-induced insulin resistance associated with moderate visceral fat gain, hyperinsulinemia, and impairments of skeletal muscle insulin-signaling functionality, including GSK-3beta overactivity.