Dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance is associated with increased connexin 36 mRNA and protein expression in pancreatic rat islets

Augmented glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) is an adaptive mechanism exhibited by pancreatic islets from insulin-resistant animal models. Gap junction proteins have been proposed to contribute to islet function. As such, we investigated the expression of connexin 36 (Cx36), connexin 43 (Cx43), and the glucose transporter Glut2 at mRNA and protein levels in pancreatic islets of dexamethasone (DEX)-induced insulin-resistant rats. Study rats received daily injections of DEX (1 mg/kg body mass, i.p.) for 5 days, whereas control rats (CTL) received saline solution. DEX rats exhibited peripheral insulin resistance, as indicated by the significant postabsorptive insulin levels and by the constant rate for glucose disappearance (KITT). GSIS was significantly higher in DEX islets (1.8-fold in 16.7 mmol/L glucose vs. CTL, p < 0.05). A significant increase of 2.25-fold in islet area was observed in DEX vs. CTL islets (p < 0.05). Cx36 mRNA expression was significantly augmented, Cx43 diminished, and Glut2 mRNA was unaltered in islets of DEX vs. CTL (p < 0.05). Cx36 protein expression was 1.6-fold higher than that of CTL islets (p < 0.05). Glut2 protein expression was unaltered and Cx43 was not detected at the protein level. We conclude that DEX-induced insulin resistance is accompanied by increased GSIS and this may be associated with increase of Cx36 protein expression.     

Dehydroepiandrosterone increases beta-cell mass and improves the glucose-induced insulin secretion by pancreatic islets from aged rats

The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on pancreatic islet function of aged rats, an animal model with impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion, was investigated. The following parameters were examined: morphological analysis of endocrine pancreata by immunohistochemistry; protein levels of insulin receptor, IRS-1, IRS-2, PI 3-kinase, Akt-1, and Akt-2; and static insulin secretion in isolated pancreatic islets. Pancreatic islets from DHEA-treated rats showed an increased beta-cell mass accompanied by increased Akt-1 protein level but reduced IR, IRS-1, and IRS-2 protein levels and enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The present results suggest that DHEA may be a promising drug to prevent diabetes during aging.     

Pancreatic Alpha-Cell Dysfunction Contributes to the Disruption of Glucose Homeostasis and Compensatory Insulin Hypersecretion in Glucocorticoid-Treated Rats

Glucocorticoid (GC)-based therapies can cause insulin resistance (IR), glucose intolerance, hyperglycemia and, occasionally, overt diabetes. Understanding the mechanisms behind these metabolic disorders could improve the management of glucose homeostasis in patients undergoing GC treatment. For this purpose, adult rats were treated with a daily injection of dexamethasone (1 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) (DEX) or saline as a control for 5 consecutive days. The DEX rats developed IR, augmented glycemia, hyperinsulinemia and hyperglucagonemia. Treatment of the DEX rats with a glucagon receptor antagonist normalized their blood glucose level. The characteristic inhibitory effect of glucose on glucagon secretion was impaired in the islets of the DEX rats, while no direct effects were found on α-cells in islets that were incubated with DEX in vitro. A higher proportion of docked secretory granules was found in the DEX α-cells as well as a trend towards increased α-cell mass. Additionally, insulin secretion in the presence of glucagon was augmented in the islets of the DEX rats, which was most likely due to their higher glucagon receptor content. We also found that the enzyme 11βHSD-1, which participates in GC metabolism, contributed to the insulin hypersecretion in the DEX rats under basal glucose conditions. Altogether, we showed that GC treatment induces hyperglucagonemia, which contributes to an imbalance in glucose homeostasis and compensatory β-cell hypersecretion. This hyperglucagonemia may result from altered α-cell function and, likely, α-cell mass. Additionally, blockage of the glucagon receptor seems to be effective in preventing the elevation in blood glucose levels induced by GC administration.     

Increased IRS-2 content and activation of IGF-I pathway contribute to enhance beta-cell mass in fetuses from undernourished pregnant rats

We have previously shown that fetuses from undernourished (U) pregnant rats exhibited an increased beta-cell mass probably related to an enhanced IGF-I replicative response. Because IGF-I signaling pathways have been implicated in regulating beta-cell growth, we investigated in this study the IGF-I transduction system in U fetuses. To this end, an in vitro model of primary fetal islets was developed to characterize glucose/IGF-I-mediated signaling that specially influences beta-cell proliferation. We found that U fetal islets showed a greater replicative response to glucose and IGF-I than controls. Furthermore, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2 protein and its association with p85 were also increased. In the complete absence of IGF-I or stimulatory glucose, U islets presented an increased basal phosphorylation of downstream signals of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway such as PKB, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3alpha/beta, PKCzeta, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Similarly, phosphorylation of these proteins (except GSK3alpha/beta) by glucose and IGF-I was augmented even though total protein content remained unchanged. Downstream of PKB, direct glucose activation of mTOR was increased as well. In contrast, ERK1/2 phosphorylation was unaffected by undernutrition, but ERK activation seemed to be required to induce a higher proliferative response in U islets. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that fetal U islets show increased IRS-2 content and an enhancement in both basal and glucose/IGF-I activations of the IRS-2/PI3K/PKB pathway. These molecular changes may be responsible for the greater glucose/IGF-I islet replication and contribute to the increased beta-cell mass found in these fetuses.     

Stimulation of protein synthesis, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E phosphorylation, and PHAS-I phosphorylation by insulin requires insulin receptor substrate 1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Insulin rapidly stimulates protein synthesis in a wide variety of tissues. This stimulation is associated with phosphorylation of several translational initiation and elongation factors, but little is known about the signaling pathways to these events. To study these pathways, we have used a myeloid progenitor cell line (32D) which is dependent on interleukin 3 but insensitive to insulin because of the very low levels of insulin receptor (IR) and the complete lack of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-signaling proteins (IRS-1 and IRS-2). Expression of more IR permits partial stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by insulin, and expression of IRS-1 alone mediates insulin stimulation of the 70-kDa S6 kinase (pp70S6K) by the endogenous IR. However, expression of both IR and IRS-1 is required for stimulation of protein synthesis. Moreover, this effect requires activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), as determined by wortmannin inhibition and the use of an IRS-1 variant lacking all Tyr residues except those which activate PI3K. Stimulation of general protein synthesis does not involve activation by IRS-1 of GRB-2-SOS-p21ras or SH-PTP2, since IRS-1 variants lacking the SH2-binding Tyr residues for these proteins are fully active. Nor does it involve pp70S6K, since rapamycin, while strongly inhibiting the synthesis of a small subset of growth-regulated proteins, only slightly inhibits total protein synthesis. Recruitment of mRNAs to the ribosome is enhanced by phosphorylation of eIF4E, the cap-binding protein, and PHAS-I, a protein that specifically binds eIF4E. The behavior of cell lines containing IRS-1 variants and inhibition by wortmannin and rapamycin indicate that the phosphorylation of both proteins requires IRS-1-mediated stimulation of PI3K and pp70S6K but not mitogen-activated protein kinase or SH-PTP2.     

Cellular compartmentalization in insulin action: altered signaling by a lipid-modified IRS-1

While most receptor tyrosine kinases signal by recruiting SH2 proteins directly to phosphorylation sites on their plasma membrane receptor, the insulin receptor phosphorylates intermediary IRS proteins that are distributed between the cytoplasm and a state of loose association with intracellular membranes. To determine the importance of this distribution to IRS-1-mediated signaling, we constructed a prenylated, constitutively membrane-bound IRS-1 by adding the COOH-terminal 9 amino acids from p21(ras), including the CAAX motif, to IRS-1 (IRS-CAAX) and analyzed its function in 32D cells expressing the insulin receptor. IRS-CAAX migrated more slowly on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis than did IRS-1 and demonstrated increased levels of serine/threonine phosphorylation. Insulin-stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of IRS-CAAX was slightly decreased, while IRS-CAAX-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3'-kinase) binding and activation were decreased by approximately 75% compared to those for wild-type IRS-1. Similarly, expression of IRS-CAAX desensitized insulin-stimulated [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by about an order of magnitude compared to IRS-1. By contrast, IRS-CAAX-expressing cells demonstrated increased signaling by mitogen-activated protein kinase, Akt, and p70(S6) kinase in response to insulin. Hence, tight association with the membrane increased IRS-1 serine phosphorylation and reduced coupling between the insulin receptor, PI3'-kinase, and proliferative signaling while enhancing other signaling pathways. Thus, the correct distribution of IRS-1 between the cytoplasm and membrane compartments is critical to the normal balance in the network of insulin signaling.     

Receptors for insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin receptor substrate-1 mediate pathways that regulate islet function

The insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signalling pathways are present in most mammalian cells and play important roles in the growth and metabolism of tissues. Most proteins in these pathways have also been identified in the beta-cells of the pancreatic islets. Tissue-specific knockout of the insulin receptor (betaIRKO) or IGF-1 receptor (betaIGFRKO) in pancreatic beta-cells leads to altered glucose-sensing and glucose intolerance in adult mice, and betaIRKO mice show an age-dependent decrease in islet size and beta-cell mass. These data indicate that these receptors are important for differentiated function and are unlikely to play a major role in the early growth and/or development of the pancreatic islets. Conventional insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) knockouts manifest growth retardation and mild insulin resistance. The IRS-1 knockouts also display islet hyperplasia, defects in insulin secretory responses to multiple stimuli both in vivo and in vitro, reduced islet insulin content and an increased number of autophagic vacuoles in the beta-cells. Re-expression of IRS-1 in cultured beta-cells is able to partially restore the insulin content indicating that IRS-1 is involved in the regulation of insulin synthesis. Taken together, these data provide evidence that insulin and IGF-1 receptors and IRS-1, and potentially other proteins in the insulin/IGF-1 signalling pathway, contribute to the regulation of islet hormone secretion and synthesis and therefore in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.     

The Drosophila insulin receptor activates multiple signaling pathways but requires insulin receptor substrate proteins for DNA synthesis.

The Drosophila insulin receptor (DIR) contains a 368-amino-acid COOH-terminal extension that contains several tyrosine phosphorylation sites in YXXM motifs. This extension is absent from the human insulin receptor but resembles a region in insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins which binds to the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase and mediates mitogenesis. The function of a chimeric DIR containing the human insulin receptor binding domain (hDIR) was investigated in 32D cells, which contain few insulin receptors and no IRS proteins. Insulin stimulated tyrosine autophosphorylation of the human insulin receptor and hDIR, and both receptors mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and activated mitogen-activated protein kinase. IRS-1 was required by the human insulin receptor to activate PI 3-kinase and p70s6k, whereas hDIR associated with PI 3-kinase and activated p70s6k without IRS-1. However, both receptors required IRS-1 to mediate insulin-stimulated mitogenesis. These data demonstrate that the DIR possesses additional signaling capabilities compared with its mammalian counterpart but still requires IRS-1 for the complete insulin response in mammalian cells.     

Differential modulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation state of the insulin receptor by IRS (insulin receptor subunit) proteins.

In response to insulin, tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor is stimulated, leading to autophosphorylation and tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins including insulin receptor subunit (IRS)-1, IRS-2, and Shc. Phosphorylation of these proteins leads to activation of downstream events that mediate insulin action. Insulin receptor kinase activity is requisite for the biological effects of insulin, and understanding regulation of insulin receptor phosphorylation and kinase activity is essential to understanding insulin action. Receptor tyrosine kinase activity may be altered by direct changes in tyrosine kinase activity, itself, or by dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor by protein-tyrosine phosphatases. After 1 min of insulin stimulation, the insulin receptor was tyrosine phosphorylated 8-fold more and Shc was phosphorylated 50% less in 32D cells containing both IRS-1 and insulin receptors (32D/IR+IRS-1) than in 32D cells containing only insulin receptors (32D/IR), insulin receptors and IRS-2 (32D/IR+IRS-2), or insulin receptors and a form of IRS-1 that cannot be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues (32D/IR+IRS-1F18). Therefore, IRS-1 and IRS-2 appeared to have different effects on insulin receptor phosphorylation and downstream signaling. Preincubation of cells with pervanadate greatly decreased protein-tyrosine phosphatase activity in all four cell lines. After pervanadate treatment, tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptors in insulin-treated 32D/IR, 32D/ IR+IRS-2, and 32D/IR+IRS-1F18 cells was markedly increased, but pervanadate had no effect on insulin receptor phosphorylation in 32D/IR+IRS-1 cells. The presence of tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 appears to increase insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and potentially tyrosine kinase activity via inhibition of protein-tyrosine phosphatase(s). This effect of IRS-1 on insulin receptor phosphorylation is unique to IRS-1, as IRS-2 had no effect on insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Therefore, IRS-1 and IRS-2 appear to function differently in their effects on signaling downstream of the insulin receptor. IRS-1 may play a major role in regulating insulin receptor phosphorylation and enhancing downstream signaling after insulin stimulation.     

The TSC1-2 tumor suppressor controls insulin-PI3K signaling via regulation of IRS proteins

Insulin-like growth factors elicit many responses through activation of phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3K). The tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC1-2) suppresses cell growth by negatively regulating a protein kinase, p70S6K (S6K1), which generally requires PI3K signals for its activation. Here, we show that TSC1-2 is required for insulin signaling to PI3K. TSC1-2 maintains insulin signaling to PI3K by restraining the activity of S6K, which when activated inactivates insulin receptor substrate (IRS) function, via repression of IRS-1 gene expression and via direct phosphorylation of IRS-1. Our results argue that the low malignant potential of tumors arising from TSC1-2 dysfunction may be explained by the failure of TSC mutant cells to activate PI3K and its downstream effectors.     

Requirement of protein kinase C zeta for stimulation of protein synthesis by insulin.

The ability of insulin to stimulate protein synthesis and cellular growth is mediated through the insulin receptor (IR), which phosphorylates Tyr residues in the insulin receptor substrate-signaling proteins (IRS-1 and IRS-2), Gab-1, and Shc. These phosphorylated substrates directly bind and activate enzymes such as phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for p21Ras (GRB-2/SOS), which are in turn required for insulin-stimulated protein synthesis, cell cycle progression, and prevention of apoptosis. We have now shown that one or more members of the atypical protein kinase C group, as exemplified by the zeta isoform (PKC zeta), are downstream of IRS-1 and P13K and mediate the effect of insulin on general protein synthesis. Ectopic expression of constitutively activated PKC zeta eliminates the requirement of IRS-1 for general protein synthesis but not for insulin-stimulated activation of 70-kDa S6 kinase (p70S6K), synthesis of growth-regulated proteins (e.g., c-Myc), or mitogenesis. The fact that PKC zeta stimulates general protein synthesis but not activation of p70S6K indicates that PKC zeta activation does not involve the proto-oncogene Akt, which is also activated by PI3K. Yet insulin is still required for the stimulation of general protein synthesis in the presence of constitutively active PKC zeta and in the absence of IRS-1, suggesting a requirement for the convergence of the IRS-1/PI3K/PKC zeta pathway with one or more additional pathways emanating from the IR, e.g., Shc/SOS/p21Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase. Thus, PI3K appears to represent a bifurcation in the insulin signaling pathway, one branch leading through PKC zeta to general protein synthesis and one, through Akt and the target of rapamycin (mTOR), to growth-regulated protein synthesis and cell cycle progression.     

Identification of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS-1) and IRS-2 as Signaling Intermediates in the α6β4 Integrin-Dependent Activation of Phosphoinositide 3-OH Kinase and Promotion of Invasion

Expression of the alpha6beta4 integrin increases the invasive potential of carcinoma cells by a mechanism that involves activation of phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3K). In the present study, we investigated the signaling pathway by which the alpha6beta4 integrin activates PI3K. Neither the alpha6 nor the beta4 cytoplasmic domain contains the consensus binding motif for PI3K, pYMXM, indicating that additional proteins are likely to be involved in the activation of this lipid kinase by the alpha6beta4 integrin. We identified insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and IRS-2 as signaling intermediates in the activation of PI3K by the alpha6beta4 integrin. IRS-1 and IRS-2 are cytoplasmic adapter proteins that do not contain intrinsic kinase activity but rather function by recruiting proteins to surface receptors, where they organize signaling complexes. Ligation of the alpha6beta4 receptor promotes tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2 and increases their association with PI3K, as determined by coimmunoprecipitation. Moreover, we identified a tyrosine residue in the cytoplasmic domain of the beta4 subunit, Y1494, that is required for alpha6beta4-dependent phosphorylation of IRS-2 and activation of PI3K in response to receptor ligation. Most importantly, Y1494 is essential for the ability of the alpha6beta4 integrin to promote carcinoma invasion. Taken together, these results imply a key role for the IRS proteins in the alpha6beta4-dependent promotion of carcinoma invasion.     

Exendin-4 and exercise promotes beta-cell function and mass through IRS2 induction in islets of diabetic rats

Not only exendin-4 but also exercise has been reported to improve glucose homeostasis by enhancing insulinotropic action, but the nature of its molecular mechanism has not been clarified. We investigated a mechanism to promote insulinotropic action by means of exendin-4 and exercise training in 90% pancreatectomized (Px) rats fed 40% energy fat diets. Px diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups: 1) exendin-4, 2) exendin-4 plus exercise, 3) saline (control), and 4) exercise. During the 8-week experimental period, rats in the exendin-4 groups were subcutaneously administered with 150 pmol/kg exendin-4 twice a day, while those in the exercise groups ran on an uphill treadmill with a 15 degree incline at 20 m/min for 30 min 5 days a week. First phase insulin secretion was elevated by both the administration of exendin-4 and exercise training during hyperglycemic clamp. However, second phase insulin secretion did not differ among the groups. Individual treatment of exendin-4 and exercise expanded beta-cell mass by increasing its proliferation and reducing its apoptosis, but the administration of exendin-4 plus exercise training did not produce any additional, positive effects. Both exendin-4 and exercise enhanced insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2 expression through the activation of cAMP responding element binding protein in the islets, which potentiated their insulin/insulin like growth factor-1 signaling. The potentiation of the signaling increased the expression of pancreas duodenum homeobox-1, involved in beta-cell proliferation. In conclusion, exendin-4 and exercise equivalently improved glucose homeostasis due to the induction of IRS-2 in the islets of diabetic rats through a cAMP dependent common pathway.     

YMXM motifs and signaling by an insulin receptor substrate 1 molecule without tyrosine phosphorylation sites.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) by the activated receptors for insulin, IGF-1, and various cytokines creates binding sites for signaling proteins with Src homology 2 domains (SH2 proteins). Determining the role of specific SH2 proteins during insulin signaling has been difficult because IRS-1 possesses as many as 18 potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites, several of which contain redundant motifs. Using 32D cells, which contain no endogenous IRS proteins, we compared the signaling ability of an IRS-1 molecule in which 18 potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites were replaced by phenylalanine (IRS-1(F18)) with two derivative molecules which retained three YMXM motifs (IRS-1(3YMXM)) or the two COOH-terminal SHP2-Fyn binding sites (IRS-1(YCT)). During insulin stimulation, IRS-1(F18) failed to undergo tyrosine phosphorylation or mediate activation of the phosphotidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinase or p70(s6k); IRS-1(YCT) was tyrosine phosphorylated but also failed to mediate these signaling events. Neither IRS-1(3YMXM) nor IRS-1(YCT) mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. IRS-1(F18) and IRS-1(YCT) partially mediated similar levels of insulin-stimulated mitogenesis at high insulin concentrations, however, suggesting that IRS-1 contains phosphotyrosine-independent elements which effect mitogenic signals, and that the sites in IRS-l(YCT) do not augment this signal. IRS-1(3YMXM) mediated the maximal mitogenic response to insulin, although the response to insulin was more sensitive with wild-type IRS-1. By contrast, the association of IRS-1(3YMXM) with PI 3'-kinase was more sensitive to insulin than the association with IRS-1. Thus, the binding of SH2 proteins (such as PI 3'-kinase) by YMXM motifs in IRS-1 is an important element in the mitogenic response, but other elements are essential for full mitogenic sensitivity.     

Insulin receptor substrate 4 associates with the protein IRAS

The insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) are key components in signaling from the insulin receptor, and consequently any proteins that interact with them are expected to participate in insulin signaling. In this study we have searched for proteins that interact with IRS-4 by identifying the proteins that coimmunoprecipitated with IRS-4 from human embryonic kidney 293 cells by microsequencing through mass spectrometry. A group of proteins was found. These included phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, a protein previously identified as an IRS-4 interactor, and several proteins for which there was no previous evidence of IRS-4 association. One of these proteins, named IRAS, that had been found earlier in another context was examined in detail. The results from the overexpression of IRAS, where its amount was about the same as that of IRS-4, indicated that IRAS associated directly with IRS-4 and showed that the increased complexation of IRS-4 with IRAS did not alter the insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-4 or the association of IRS-4 with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or Grb2. On the other hand, overexpression of IRAS enhanced IRS-4-dependent insulin stimulation of the extracellularly regulated kinase. The domains of IRAS and IRS-4 responsible for the association of these two proteins were identified, and it was shown that IRAS also associates with IRS-1, IRS-2, and IRS-3.     

Reduced expression of SIRT1 is associated with diminished glucose-induced insulin secretion in islets from calorie-restricted rats

Alterations in food intake such as caloric restriction modulate the expression of SIRT1 and SIRT4 proteins that are involved in pancreatic β-cell function. Here, we search for a possible relationship between insulin secretion and the expression of SIRT1, SIRT4, PKC and PKA in islets from adult rats submitted to CR for 21 days. Rats were fed with an isocaloric diet (CTL) or received 60% (CR) of the food ingested by CTL. The dose-response curve of insulin secretion to glucose was shifted to the right in the CR compared with CTL islets (EC₅₀ of 15.1±0.17 and 10.5±0.11 mmol/L glucose). Insulin release by the depolarizing agents arginine and KCl was reduced in CR compared with CTL islets. Total islet insulin content and glucose oxidation were also reduced in CR islets. Leucine-stimulated secretion was similar in both groups, slightly reduced in CR islets stimulated by leucine plus glutamine but higher in CR islets stimulated by ketoisocaproate (KIC). Insulin secretion was also higher in CR islets stimulated by carbachol, compared with CTL islets. No differences in the rise of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentrations stimulated by either glucose or KCl were observed between groups of islets. Finally, SIRT1, but not SIRT4, protein expression was lower in CR compared with CTL islets, whereas no differences in the expression of PKC and PKA proteins were observed. In conclusion, the lower insulin secretion in islets from CR rats was, at least in part, due to an imbalance between the expression of SIRT1 and SIRT4.     

PDGF-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation is associated with dysregulation of insulin receptor substrates

In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) plays a major role in inducing phenotypic switching from contractile to proliferative state. Importantly, VSMC phenotypic switching is also determined by the phosphorylation state/expression levels of insulin receptor substrate (IRS), an intermediary signaling component that is shared by insulin and IGF-I. To date, the roles of PDGF-induced key proliferative signaling components including Akt, p70S6kinase, and ERK1/2 on the serine phosphorylation/expression of IRS-1 and IRS-2 isoforms remain unclear in VSMCs. We hypothesize that PDGF-induced VSMC proliferation is associated with dysregulation of insulin receptor substrates. Using human aortic VSMCs, we demonstrate that prolonged PDGF treatment led to sustained increases in the phosphorylation of protein kinases such as Akt, p70S6kinase, and ERK1/2, which mediate VSMC proliferation. In addition, PDGF enhanced IRS-1/IRS-2 serine phosphorylation and downregulated IRS-2 expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Notably, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor (PI-103) and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (rapamycin), which abolished PDGF-induced Akt and p70S6kinase phosphorylation, respectively, blocked PDGF-induced IRS-1 serine phosphorylation and IRS-2 downregulation. In contrast, MEK1/ERK inhibitor (U0126) failed to block PDGF-induced IRS-1 serine phosphorylation and IRS-2 downregulation. PDGF-induced IRS-2 downregulation was prevented by lactacystin, an inhibitor of proteasomal degradation. Functionally, PDGF-mediated IRS-1/IRS-2 dysregulation resulted in the attenuation of insulin-induced IRS-1/IRS-2-associated PI 3-kinase activity. Pharmacological inhibition of PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase with imatinib prevented IRS-1/IRS-2 dysregulation and restored insulin receptor signaling. In conclusion, strategies to inhibit PDGF receptors would not only inhibit neointimal growth but may provide new therapeutic options to prevent dysregulated insulin receptor signaling in VSMCs in nondiabetic and diabetic states.