Structural biology of insulin and IGF1 receptors: implications for drug design

Inter-domain tagging implicates caveolin-1 in insulin receptor trafficking and Erk signaling bias in pancreatic beta-cells

OBJECTIVE

The role and mechanisms of insulin receptor internalization remain incompletely understood. Previous trafficking studies of insulin receptors involved fluorescent protein tagging at their termini, manipulations that may be expected to result in dysfunctional receptors. Our objective was to determine the trafficking route and molecular mechanisms of functional tagged insulin receptors and endogenous insulin receptors in pancreatic beta-cells.

METHODS

We generated functional insulin receptors tagged with pH-resistant fluorescent proteins between domains. Confocal, TIRF and STED imaging revealed a trafficking pattern of inter-domain tagged insulin receptors and endogenous insulin receptors detected with antibodies.

RESULTS

Surprisingly, interdomain-tagged and endogenous insulin receptors in beta-cells bypassed classical Rab5a- or Rab7-mediated endocytic routes. Instead, we found that removal of insulin receptors from the plasma membrane involved tyrosine-phosphorylated caveolin-1, prior to trafficking within flotillin-1-positive structures to lysosomes. Multiple methods of inhibiting caveolin-1 significantly reduced Erk activation in vitro or in vivo, while leaving Akt signaling mostly intact.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that phosphorylated caveolin-1 plays a role in insulin receptor internalization towards lysosomes through flotillin-1-positive structures and that caveolin-1 helps bias physiological beta-cell insulin signaling towards Erk activation.

Polymorphism in exon 2 encoding the putative ligand binding pocket of the bovine insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor affects milk traits in four different cattle breeds

As a member of the somatotropic axis, insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF1R) seems to be a promising candidate gene. Two silent polymorphisms, identified by MspI and TaqI restriction enzymes, were selected within exon 2, encoding the majority of the putative ligand binding pocket. A total of 1169 cows of four pure breeds (Polish Holstein Friesian, Montbeliarde, Jersey and Holstein Friesian) were genotyped. The T (IGF1R/e2/MspI) and G (IGF1R/e2/TaqI) alleles were found to be prevalent. Three combinations of genotypes (TT/GG, TT/AG and CT/GG) were associated with the highest productivity (milk, protein and fat yields) among all breeds under study, as opposed to individuals carrying the worst CC/AA combination. In view of the specific structure of the ligand binding pocket and the significance of insulin-like growth factor I signalling promoting the development and differentiation in a variety of tissues (not only limited to mammary gland), the existence of missense mutation is unlikely. Potential mutations are likely limited to mRNA transcription and further post-transcriptional modifications. Further investigations should follow searching for the most useful IGF1R haplotypes, associated with higher milk production traits, exerting at the same time positive or neutral impact on health and welfare of individuals.

Contribution of TyrB26 to the Function and Stability of Insulin: STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS AT A CONSERVED HORMONE-RECEPTOR INTERFACE

Crystallographic studies of insulin bound to receptor domains have defined the primary hormone-receptor interface. We investigated the role of Tyr(B26), a conserved aromatic residue at this interface. To probe the evolutionary basis for such conservation, we constructed 18 variants at B26. Surprisingly, non-aromatic polar or charged side chains (such as Glu, Ser, or ornithine (Orn)) conferred high activity, whereas the weakest-binding analogs contained Val, Ile, and Leu substitutions. Modeling of variant complexes suggested that the B26 side chains pack within a shallow depression at the solvent-exposed periphery of the interface. This interface would disfavor large aliphatic side chains. The analogs with highest activity exhibited reduced thermodynamic stability and heightened susceptibility to fibrillation. Perturbed self-assembly was also demonstrated in studies of the charged variants (Orn and Glu); indeed, the Glu(B26) analog exhibited aberrant aggregation in either the presence or absence of zinc ions. Thus, although Tyr(B26) is part of insulin's receptor-binding surface, our results suggest that its conservation has been enjoined by the aromatic ring's contributions to native stability and self-assembly. We envisage that such classical structural relationships reflect the implicit threat of toxic misfolding (rather than hormonal function at the receptor level) as a general evolutionary determinant of extant protein sequences.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) therapy: Mitochondrial dysfunction and diseases

This review resumes the association between mitochondrial function and diseases, especially neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, it summarizes the major role of IGF-1 as a mitochondrial protector, as studied in several experimental models (cirrhosis, aging …). The contribution of mitochondrial dysfunction to impairments in insulin metabolic signaling is also suggested by gene array analysis showing that reductions in gene expression, that regulates mitochondrial ATP production, are associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, reductions in oxidative capacity of mitochondrial electron transport chain are manifested in obese, insulin-resistant and diabetic patients. Genetic and environmental factors, oxidative stress, and alterations in mitochondrial biogenesis can adversely affect mitochondrial function, leading to insulin resistance and several pathological conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Finally, it remains essential to know the exact mechanisms involved in mitochondrial generation and metabolism, mitophagy, apoptosis, and oxidative stress to establish new targets in order to develop potentially effective therapies. One of the newest targets to recover mitochondrial dysfunction could be the administration of IGF-1 at low doses. In the last years, it has been observed that IGF-1 therapy has several beneficial effects: restores physiological IGF-1 levels; improves insulin resistance and lipid metabolism; exerts mitochondrial protection; and has hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antioxidant and antifibrogenic effects. In consequence, treatment of mitochondrial dysfunctions with low doses of IGF-1 could be a powerful and useful effective therapy to restore normal mitochondrial functions.

Differential Effects of Camel Milk on Insulin Receptor Signaling - Toward Understanding the Insulin-Like Properties of Camel Milk

Previous studies on the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) showed beneficial effects of its milk reported in diverse models of human diseases, including a substantial hypoglycemic activity. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in such effects remain completely unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that camel milk may act at the level of human insulin receptor (hIR) and its related intracellular signaling pathways. Therefore, we examined the effect of camel milk on the activation of hIR transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) technology. BRET was used to assess, in live cells and real-time, the physical interaction between hIR and insulin receptor signaling proteins (IRS1) and the growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2). Our data showed that camel milk did not promote any increase in the BRET signal between hIR and IRS1 or Grb2 in the absence of insulin stimulation. However, it significantly potentiated the maximal insulin-promoted BRET signal between hIR and Grb2 but not IRS1. Interestingly, camel milk appears to differentially impact the downstream signaling since it significantly activated ERK1/2 and potentiated the insulin-induced ERK1/2 but not Akt activation. These observations are to some extent consistent with the BRET data since ERK1/2 and Akt activation are known to reflect the engagement of Grb2 and IRS1 pathways, respectively. The preliminary fractionation of camel milk suggests the peptide/protein nature of the active component in camel milk. Together, our study demonstrates for the first time an allosteric effect of camel milk on insulin receptor conformation and activation with differential effects on its intracellular signaling. These findings should help to shed more light on the hypoglycemic activity of camel milk with potential therapeutic applications.

All-Atom Structural Models of the Transmembrane Domains of Insulin and Type 1 Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptors

The receptor tyrosine kinase superfamily comprises many cell-surface receptors including the insulin receptor (IR) and type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) that are constitutively homodimeric transmembrane glycoproteins. Therefore, these receptors require ligand-triggered domain rearrangements rather than receptor dimerization for activation. Specifically, binding of peptide ligands to receptor ectodomains transduces signals across the transmembrane domains for trans-autophosphorylation in cytoplasmic kinase domains. The molecular details of these processes are poorly understood in part due to the absence of structures of full-length receptors. Using MD simulations and enhanced conformational sampling algorithms, we present all-atom structural models of peptides containing 51 residues from the transmembrane and juxtamembrane regions of IR and IGF1R. In our models, the transmembrane regions of both receptors adopt helical conformations with kinks at Pro961 (IR) and Pro941 (IGF1R), but the C-terminal residues corresponding to the juxtamembrane region of each receptor adopt unfolded and flexible conformations in IR as opposed to a helix in IGF1R. We also observe that the N-terminal residues in IR form a kinked-helix sitting at the membrane-solvent interface, while homologous residues in IGF1R are unfolded and flexible. These conformational differences result in a larger tilt-angle of the membrane-embedded helix in IGF1R in comparison to IR to compensate for interactions with water molecules at the membrane-solvent interfaces. Our metastable/stable states for the transmembrane domain of IR, observed in a lipid bilayer, are consistent with a known NMR structure of this domain determined in detergent micelles, and similar states in IGF1R are consistent with a previously reported model of the dimerized transmembrane domains of IGF1R. Our all-atom structural models suggest potentially unique structural organization of kinase domains in each receptor.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Insulin: Elucidating the Conformational Changes that Enable Its Binding

A sequence of complex conformational changes is required for insulin to bind to the insulin receptor. Recent experimental evidence points to the B chain C-terminal (BC-CT) as the location of these changes in insulin. Here, we present molecular dynamics simulations of insulin that reveal new insights into the structural changes occurring in the BC-CT. We find three key results: 1) The opening of the BC-CT is inherently stochastic and progresses through an open and then a “wide-open” conformation—the wide-open conformation is essential for receptor binding, but occurs only rarely. 2) The BC-CT opens with a zipper-like mechanism, with a hinge at the Phe24 residue, and is maintained in the dominant closed/inactive state by hydrophobic interactions of the neighboring Tyr26, the critical residue where opening of the BC-CT (activation of insulin) is initiated. 3) The mutation Y26N is a potential candidate as a therapeutic insulin analogue. Overall, our results suggest that the binding of insulin to its receptor is a highly dynamic and stochastic process, where initial docking occurs in an open conformation and full binding is facilitated through interactions of insulin receptor residues with insulin in its wide-open conformation.

Disrupted TSH Receptor Expression in Female Mouse Lung Fibroblasts Alters Subcellular IGF-1 Receptor Distribution

A relationship between the actions of TSH and IGF-1 was first recognized several decades ago. The close physical and functional associations between their respective receptors (TSHR and IGF-1R) has been described more recently in thyroid epithelium and human orbital fibroblasts as has the noncanonical behavior of IGF-1R. Here we report studies conducted in lung fibroblasts from female wild-type C57/B6 (TSHR(+/+)) mice and their littermates in which TSHR has been knocked out (TSHR(-/-)). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that cell surface IGF-1R levels are substantially lower in TSHR(-/-) fibroblasts compared with TSHR(+/+) fibroblasts. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy revealed similar divergence with regard to both cytoplasmic and nuclear IGF-1R. Western blot analysis demonstrated both intact IGF-1R and receptor fragments in both cellular compartments. In contrast, IGF-1R mRNA levels were similar in fibroblasts from mice without and with intact TSHR expression. IGF-1 treatment of TSHR(+/+) fibroblasts resulted in reduced nuclear and cytoplasmic staining for IGF-1Rα, whereas it enhanced the nuclear signal in TSHR(-/-) cells. In contrast, IGF-1 enhanced cytoplasmic IGF-1Rβ in TSHR(-/-) fibroblasts while increasing the nuclear signal in TSHR(+/+) cells. These findings indicate the intimate relationship between TSHR and IGF-1R found earlier in human orbital fibroblasts also exists in mouse lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, the presence of TSHR in these fibroblasts influenced not only the levels of IGF-1R protein but also its subcellular distribution and response to IGF-1. They suggest that the mouse might serve as a suitable model for delineating the molecular mechanisms overarching these two receptors.

Pressuromodulation at the cell membrane as the basis for small molecule hormone and peptide regulation of cellular and nuclear function

Building on recent knowledge that the specificity of the biological interactions of small molecule hydrophiles and lipophiles across microvascular and epithelial barriers, and with cells, can be predicted on the basis of their conserved biophysical properties, and the knowledge that biological peptides are cell membrane impermeant, it has been further discussed herein that cellular, and thus, nuclear function, are primarily regulated by small molecule hormone and peptide/factor interactions at the cell membrane (CM) receptors. The means of regulating cellular, and thus, nuclear function, are the various forms of CM Pressuromodulation that exist, which include Direct CM Receptor-Mediated Stabilizing Pressuromodulation, sub-classified as Direct CM Receptor-Mediated Stabilizing Shift Pressuromodulation (Single, Dual or Tri) or Direct CM Receptor-Mediated Stabilizing Shift Pressuromodulation (Single, Dual or Tri) cum External Cationomodulation (≥3+ → 1+); which are with respect to acute CM receptor-stabilizing effects of small biomolecule hormones, growth factors or cytokines, and also include Indirect CM- or CM Receptor-Mediated Pressuromodulation, sub-classified as Indirect 1ary CM-Mediated Shift Pressuromodulation (Perturbomodulation), Indirect 2ary CM Receptor-Mediated Shift Pressuromodulation (Tri or Quad Receptor Internal Pseudo-Cationomodulation: SS 1+), Indirect 3ary CM Receptor-Mediated Shift Pressuromodulation (Single or Dual Receptor Endocytic External Cationomodulation: 2+) or Indirect (Pseudo) 3ary CM Receptor-Mediated Shift Pressuromodulation (Receptor Endocytic Hydroxylocarbonyloetheroylomodulation: 0), which are with respect to sub-acute CM receptor-stabilizing effects of small biomolecules, growth factors or cytokines. As a generalization, all forms of CM pressuromodulation decrease CM and nuclear membrane (NM) compliance (whole cell compliance), due to pressuromodulation of the intracellular microtubule network and increases the exocytosis of pre-synthesized vesicular endogolgi peptides and small molecules as well as nuclear-to-rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane proteins to the CM, with the potential to simultaneously increase the NM-associated chromatin DNA transcription of higher molecular weight protein forms, secretory and CM-destined, mitochondrial and nuclear, including the highest molecular weight nuclear proteins, Ki67 (359 kDa) and Separase (230 kDa), with the latter leading to mitogenesis and cell division; while, in the case of growth factors or cytokines with external cationomodulation capability, CM Receptor External Cationomodulation of CM receptors (≥3+ → 1+) results in cationic extracellular interaction (≥3+) with extracellular matrix heparan sulfates (≥3+ → 1+) concomitant with lamellopodesis and cell migration. It can be surmised that the modulation of cellular, and nuclear, function is mostly a reactive process, governed, primarily, by small molecule hormone and peptide interactions at the cell membrane, with CM receptors and the CM itself. These insights taken together, provide valuable translationally applicable knowledge.

Structural Dynamics of Insulin Receptor and Transmembrane Signaling

The insulin receptor (IR) is a (αβ)2-type transmembrane tyrosine kinase that plays a central role in cell metabolism. Each αβ heterodimer consists of an extracellular ligand-binding α-subunit and a membrane-spanning β-subunit that comprises the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase (TK) domain and the phosphorylation sites. The α- and β-subunits are linked via a single disulfide bridge, and the (αβ)2 tetramer is formed by disulfide bonds between the α-chains. Insulin binding induces conformational changes in IR that reach the intracellular β-subunit followed by a protein phosphorylation and activation cascade. Defects in this signaling process, including IR dysfunction caused by mutations, result in type 2 diabetes. Rational drug design aimed at treatment of diabetes relies on knowledge of the detailed structure of IR and the dynamic structural transformations during transmembrane signaling. Recent X-ray crystallographic studies have provided important clues about the mode of binding of insulin to IR, the resulting structural changes and their transmission to the TK domain, but a complete understanding of the structural basis underlying insulin signaling has not been achieved. This review presents a critical analysis of the current status of the structure-function relationship of IR, with a comparative assessment of the other IR family receptors, and discusses potential advancements that may provide insight into the molecular mechanism of insulin signaling.

Non-small cell lung cancer cell survival crucially depends on functional insulin receptors

Insulin plays an important role as a growth factor and its contribution to tumor proliferation is intensely discussed. It acts via the cognate insulin receptor (IR) but can also activate the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R). Apart from increasing proliferation, insulin might have additional effects in lung cancer. Therefore, we investigated insulin action and effects of IR knockdown (KD) in three (NCI-H292, NCI-H226 and NCI-H460) independent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. All lung cancer lines studied were found to express IR, albeit with marked differences in the ratio of the two variants IR-A and IR-B. Insulin activated the classical signaling pathway with IR autophosphorylation and Akt phosphorylation. Moreover, activation of MAPK was observed in H292 cells, accompanied by enhanced proliferation. Lentiviral shRNA IR KD caused strong decrease in survival of all three lines, indicating that the effects of insulin in lung cancer go beyond enhancing proliferation. Unspecific effects were ruled out by employing further shRNAs and different insulin-responsive cells (human pre-adipocytes) for comparison. Caspase assays demonstrated that IR KD strongly induced apoptosis in these lung cancer cells, providing the physiological basis of the rapid cell loss. In search for the underlying mechanism, we analyzed alterations in the gene expression profile in response to IR KD. A strong induction of certain cytokines (e.g. IL20 and tumour necrosis factor) became obvious and it turned out that these cytokines trigger apoptosis in the NSCLC cells tested. This indicates a novel role of IR in tumor cell survival via suppression of pro-apoptotic cytokines.

Classical and non-classical proangiogenic factors as a target of antiangiogenic therapy in tumor microenvironment

Angiogenesis is sustained by classical and non-classical proangiogenic factors (PFs) acting in tumor microenvironment and these factors are also potential targets of antiangiogenic therapies. All PFs induce the overexpression of several signaling pathways that lead to migration and proliferation of endothelial cells contributing to tumor angiogenesis and survival of cancer cells. In this review, we have analyzed each PF with its specific receptor/s and we have summarized the available antiangiogenic drugs (e.g. monoclonal antibodies) targeting these PFs, some of these agents have already been approved, others are currently in development for the treatment of several human malignancies.

Extracellular vimentin interacts with insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor to promote axonal growth

Vimentin, an intermediate filament protein, is generally recognised as an intracellular protein. Previously, we reported that vimentin was secreted from astrocytes and promoted axonal growth. The effect of extracellular vimentin in neurons was a new finding, but its signalling pathway was unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine the signalling mechanism of extracellular vimentin that facilitates axonal growth. We first identified insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) as a receptor that is highly phosphorylated by vimentin stimulation. IGF1R blockades diminished vimentin- or IGF1-induced axonal growth in cultured cortical neurons. IGF1, IGF2 and insulin were not detected in the neuron culture medium after vimentin treatment. The combined drug affinity responsive target stability method and western blotting analysis showed that vimentin and IGF1 interacted with IGF1R directly. In addition, immunoprecipitation and western blotting analyses confirmed that recombinant IGF1R bound to vimentin. The results of a molecular dynamics simulation revealed that C-terminal residues (residue number 330-407) in vimentin are the most appropriate binding sites with IGF1R. Thus, extracellular vimentin may be a novel ligand of IGF1R that promotes axonal growth in a similar manner to IGF1. Our results provide novel findings regarding the role of extracellular vimentin and IGF1R in axonal growth.

Subetta increases phosphorylation of insulin receptor β-subunit alone and in the presence of insulin

It has been previously shown that Subetta (a drug containing released-active forms of antibodies to the insulin receptor β-subunit and antibodies to endothelial nitric oxide synthase) stimulated insulin-induced adiponectin production by mature human adipocytes in the absence of insulin. Therefore, it was assumed that Subetta could activate the insulin receptor. To confirm this hypothesis, the capacity of Subetta to activate the insulin receptor in mature human adipocytes in the absence or presence of the insulin was investigated. Cells were incubated either with Subetta or with vehicle, or with basal medium for 3 days. Then, adipocytes were treated with water or insulin (100 nm) for 15 min. Following treatment, lysates were prepared and phosphorylation of insulin receptor β-subunits was analyzed by western blot analysis. It was shown that Subetta significantly increased (P<0.001) the ‘phosphorylated-insulin receptor β-subunit/total insulin receptor β-subunit' ratios in both the presence and the absence of insulin. These results support previously published data and indicate that Subetta could activate the insulin receptor through the effect on its β-subunits, whose conformational state is essential for insulin receptor activation. This action might serve as one of the primary mechanisms of the drug's antidiabetic effect.

Theoretical and computational studies of peptides and receptors of the insulin family

Synergistic interactions among peptides and receptors of the insulin family are required for glucose homeostasis, normal cellular growth and development, proliferation, differentiation and other metabolic processes. The peptides of the insulin family are disulfide-linked single or dual-chain proteins, while receptors are ligand-activated transmembrane glycoproteins of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) superfamily. Binding of ligands to the extracellular domains of receptors is known to initiate signaling via activation of intracellular kinase domains. While the structure of insulin has been known since 1969, recent decades have seen remarkable progress on the structural biology of apo and liganded receptor fragments. Here, we review how this useful structural information (on ligands and receptors) has enabled large-scale atomically-resolved simulations to elucidate the conformational dynamics of these biomolecules. Particularly, applications of molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation methods are discussed in various contexts, including studies of isolated ligands, apo-receptors, ligand/receptor complexes and intracellular kinase domains. The review concludes with a brief overview and future outlook for modeling and computational studies in this family of proteins.

Three-chain insulin analogs demonstrate the importance of insulin secondary structure to bioactivity

This report describes the chemical synthesis and biological characterization of novel three-chain insulin analogs with a destabilized secondary structure. The analogs, obtained by chemical synthesis via a single-chain precursor and selective enzymatic digestion, were used to investigate the role of the highly conserved 'insulin fold'. Biological characterization through in vitro biochemical signaling showed extremely low activity at each insulin receptor when compared with native insulin. We conclude that the 'insulin fold' is a structural foundation that supports insulin biological action.

Specific insulin/IGF1 hybrid receptor activation assay reveals IGF1 as a more potent ligand than insulin

This novel method enables specific measurement of the activation of hybrid receptors formed between the Insulin Receptor (IR) and the Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF1R). These hybrid receptors are present in tissues and cell lines expressing both IR and IGF1R. It is therefore challenging to separate the homodimer and hybrid receptor activation properties. This ELISA method enabled fast and quantitative measurements of activated hybrid receptors. The hybrid receptor specificity is obtained from a combination of two specific antibodies for IGF1R and for an IR tyrosine phosphorylation site. The specificity was shown by immunoprecipitations and Western blot analysis. IR exists as two splice variants; consequently, two splice variants of hybrid receptors can be expressed. It is reported here that both splice variants of insulin/IGF1 receptor hybrids are activated by IGF1 with >20-fold higher potency than insulin.

GALNT2 suppresses malignant phenotypes through IGF-1 receptor and predicts favorable prognosis in neuroblastoma

Aberrant expression of the simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigens such as Tn antigen is associated with malignant transformation and cancer progression. N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 2 (GALNT2), one of the enzymes that mediate the initial step of mucin-type O-glycosylation, is responsible for forming Tn antigen. GALNT2 is expressed differentially in nervous tissues during mouse embryogenesis; however, the role of GALNT2 in neuroblastoma (NB) remains unclear. Here we showed that increased GALNT2 expression evaluated using immunohistochemistry in NB tumor tissues correlated well with the histological grade of differentiation as well as younger age at diagnosis, early clinical stage, primary tumor originated from the extra-adrenal site, favorable INPC histology, and MYCN non-amplification. Multivariate analysis showed that GALNT2 expression is an independent prognostic factor for better survival for NB patients. GALNT2 overexpression suppressed IGF-1-induced cell growth, migration, and invasion of NB cells, whereas GALNT2 knockdown enhanced these NB phenotypes. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that GALNT2 overexpression modified O-glycans on IGF-1R, which suppressed IGF-1-triggered IGF-1R dimerization and subsequent downstream signaling events. Conversely, these properties were reversed by GALNT2 knockdown in NB cells. Our findings suggest that GALNT2 regulates malignant phenotypes of NB cells through the IGF-1R signaling pathway, suggesting a critical role for GALNT2 in the pathogenesis of NB.

Impact of the obesity epidemic on cancer

There is growing appreciation that the current obesity epidemic is associated with increases in cancer incidence at a population level and may lead to poor cancer outcomes; concurrent decreases in cancer mortality at a population level may represent a paradox, i.e., they may also reflect improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer that mask obesity effects. An association of obesity with cancer is biologically plausible because adipose tissue is biologically active, secreting estrogens, adipokines, and cytokines. In obesity, adipose tissue reprogramming may lead to insulin resistance, with or without diabetes, and it may contribute to cancer growth and progression locally or through systemic effects. Obesity-associated changes impact cancer in a complex fashion, potentially acting directly on cells through pathways, such as the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathways, or indirectly via changes in the tumor microenvironment. Approaches to obesity management are discussed, and the potential for pharmacologic interventions that target the obesity-cancer link is addressed.

Putting together structures of epidermal growth factor receptors

Numerous crystal structures have been reported for the isolated extracellular region and tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its relatives, in different states of activation and bound to a variety of inhibitors used in cancer therapy. The next challenge is to put these structures together accurately in functional models of the intact receptor in its membrane environment. The intact EGFR has been studied using electron microscopy, chemical biology methods, biochemically, and computationally. The distinct approaches yield different impressions about the structural modes of communication between extracellular and intracellular regions. They highlight possible differences between ligands, and also underline the need to understand how the receptor interacts with the membrane itself.

Flexibility in the insulin receptor ectodomain enables docking of insulin in crystallographic conformation observed in a hormone-bound microreceptor

Insulin binding to the insulin receptor (IR) is the first key step in initiating downstream signaling cascades for glucose homeostasis in higher organisms. The molecular details of insulin recognition by IR are not yet completely understood, but a picture of hormone/receptor interactions at one of the epitopes (Site 1) is beginning to emerge from recent structural evidence. However, insulin-bound structures of truncated IR suggest that crystallographic conformation of insulin cannot be accommodated in the full IR ectodomain due to steric overlap of insulin with the first two type III fibronectin domains (F1 and F2), which are contributed to the insulin binding-pocket by the second subunit in the IR homodimer. A conformational change in the F1-F2 pair has thus been suggested. In this work, we present an all-atom structural model of complex of insulin and the IR ectodomain, where no structural overlap of insulin with the receptor domains (F1 and F2) is observed. This structural model was arrived at by flexibly fitting parts of our earlier insulin/IR all-atom model into the simulated density maps of crystallized constructs combined with conformational sampling from apo-IR solution conformations. Importantly, our experimentally-consistent model helps rationalize yet unresolved Site.

Aromatic anchor at an invariant hormone-receptor interface: function of insulin residue B24 with application to protein design

Crystallographic studies of insulin bound to fragments of the insulin receptor have recently defined the topography of the primary hormone-receptor interface. Here, we have investigated the role of Phe(B24), an invariant aromatic anchor at this interface and site of a human mutation causing diabetes mellitus. An extensive set of B24 substitutions has been constructed and tested for effects on receptor binding. Although aromaticity has long been considered a key requirement at this position, Met(B24) was found to confer essentially native affinity and bioactivity. Molecular modeling suggests that this linear side chain can serve as an alternative hydrophobic anchor at the hormone-receptor interface. These findings motivated further substitution of Phe(B24) by cyclohexanylalanine (Cha), which contains a nonplanar aliphatic ring. Contrary to expectations, [Cha(B24)]insulin likewise exhibited high activity. Furthermore, its resistance to fibrillation and the rapid rate of hexamer disassembly, properties of potential therapeutic advantage, were enhanced. The crystal structure of the Cha(B24) analog, determined as an R6 zinc-stabilized hexamer at a resolution of 1.5 Å, closely resembles that of wild-type insulin. The nonplanar aliphatic ring exhibits two chair conformations with partial occupancies, each recapitulating the role of Phe(B24) at the dimer interface. Together, these studies have defined structural requirements of an anchor residue within the B24-binding pocket of the insulin receptor; similar molecular principles are likely to pertain to insulin-related growth factors. Our results highlight in particular the utility of nonaromatic side chains as probes of the B24 pocket and suggest that the nonstandard Cha side chain may have therapeutic utility.

Human insulin analogues modified at the B26 site reveal a hormone conformation that is undetected in the receptor complex

The structural characterization of the insulin-insulin receptor (IR) interaction still lacks the conformation of the crucial B21-B30 insulin region, which must be different from that in its storage forms to ensure effective receptor binding. Here, it is shown that insulin analogues modified by natural amino acids at the TyrB26 site can represent an active form of this hormone. In particular, [AsnB26]-insulin and [GlyB26]-insulin attain a B26-turn-like conformation that differs from that in all known structures of the native hormone. It also matches the receptor interface, avoiding substantial steric clashes. This indicates that insulin may attain a B26-turn-like conformation upon IR binding. Moreover, there is an unexpected, but significant, binding specificity of the AsnB26 mutant for predominantly the metabolic B isoform of the receptor. As it is correlated with the B26 bend of the B-chain of the hormone, the structures of AsnB26 analogues may provide the first structural insight into the structural origins of differential insulin signalling through insulin receptor A and B isoforms.

How IGF-1 activates its receptor

The type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) is involved in growth and survival of normal and neoplastic cells. A ligand-dependent conformational change is thought to regulate IGF1R activity, but the nature of this change is unclear. We point out an underappreciated dimer in the crystal structure of the related Insulin Receptor (IR) with Insulin bound that allows direct comparison with unliganded IR and suggests a mechanism by which ligand regulates IR/IGF1R activity. We test this mechanism in a series of biochemical and biophysical assays and find the IGF1R ectodomain maintains an autoinhibited state in which the TMs are held apart. Ligand binding releases this constraint, allowing TM association and unleashing an intrinsic propensity of the intracellular regions to autophosphorylate. Enzymatic studies of full-length and kinase-containing fragments show phosphorylated IGF1R is fully active independent of ligand and the extracellular-TM regions. The key step triggered by ligand binding is thus autophosphorylation.

[Control of insulin signalisation and action by the Grb14 protein]

The action of insulin on metabolism and cell growth is mediated by a specific receptor tyrosine kinase, which, through phosphorylation of several substrates, triggers the activation of two major signaling pathways, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt pathway and the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Insulin-induced activation of the receptor and downstream signaling is also subjected to a negative feedback control involving several mechanisms, among which the interaction of the insulin receptor and its substrates with inhibitory proteins. After summarizing the major mechanisms underlying the activation and attenuation of insulin signaling, this review focuses on its control by the Grb14 adaptor protein. Grb14 has been identif-ied as an inhibitor of insulin signaling and action, and is involved in insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Studies on the molecular mechanism of action of Grb14 have shown that, through interaction with the activated insulin receptor, Grb14 inhibits its catalytic activity and the activation of downstream signaling. However, the consequences of Grb14 gene invalidation are complex and tissue-specific, and some effects of Grb14 on insulin signaling appear to be linked to its interaction with effector proteins downstream the insulin receptor. Pharmacological inhibition of Grb14 should allow to enhance insulin sensitivity and improve energy homeostasis in insulin-resistant states.

Protective hinge in insulin opens to enable its receptor engagement

Insulin provides a classical model of a globular protein, yet how the hormone changes conformation to engage its receptor has long been enigmatic. Interest has focused on the C-terminal B-chain segment, critical for protective self-assembly in β cells and receptor binding at target tissues. Insight may be obtained from truncated "microreceptors" that reconstitute the primary hormone-binding site (α-subunit domains L1 and αCT). We demonstrate that, on microreceptor binding, this segment undergoes concerted hinge-like rotation at its B20-B23 β-turn, coupling reorientation of Phe(B24) to a 60° rotation of the B25-B28 β-strand away from the hormone core to lie antiparallel to the receptor's L1-β2 sheet. Opening of this hinge enables conserved nonpolar side chains (Ile(A2), Val(A3), Val(B12), Phe(B24), and Phe(B25)) to engage the receptor. Restraining the hinge by nonstandard mutagenesis preserves native folding but blocks receptor binding, whereas its engineered opening maintains activity at the price of protein instability and nonnative aggregation. Our findings rationalize properties of clinical mutations in the insulin family and provide a previously unidentified foundation for designing therapeutic analogs. We envisage that a switch between free and receptor-bound conformations of insulin evolved as a solution to conflicting structural determinants of biosynthesis and function.

IGF2 promotes growth of adrenocortical carcinoma cells, but its overexpression does not modify phenotypic and molecular features of adrenocortical carcinoma

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) overexpression is an important molecular marker of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), which is a rare but devastating endocrine cancer. It is not clear whether IGF2 overexpression modifies the biology and growth of this cancer, thus more studies are required before IGF2 can be considered as a major therapeutic target. We compared the phenotypical, clinical, biological, and molecular characteristics of ACC with or without the overexpression of IGF2, to address these issues. We also carried out a similar analysis in an ACC cell line (H295R) in which IGF2 expression was knocked down with si- or shRNA. We found no significant differences in the clinical, biological and molecular (transcriptomic) traits between IGF2-high and IGF2-low ACC. The absence of IGF2 overexpression had little influence on the activation of tyrosine kinase pathways both in tumors and in H295 cells that express low levels of IGF2. In IGF2-low tumors, other growth factors (FGF9, PDGFA) are more expressed than in IGF2-high tumors, suggesting that they play a compensatory role in tumor progression. In addition, IGF2 knock-down in H295R cells substantially impaired growth (>50% inhibition), blocked cells in G1 phase, and promoted apoptosis (>2-fold). Finally, analysis of the 11p15 locus showed a paternal uniparental disomy in both IGF2-high and IGF2-low tumors, but low IGF2 expression could be explained in most IGF2-low ACC by an additional epigenetic modification at the 11p15 locus. Altogether, these observations confirm the active role of IGF2 in adrenocortical tumor growth, but also suggest that other growth promoting pathways may be involved in a subset of ACC with low IGF2 expression, which creates opportunities for the use of other targeted therapies.

Insulin receptor-insulin interaction kinetics using multiplex surface plasmon resonance

Type 2 diabetes affects millions of people worldwide, and measuring the kinetics of insulin receptor-insulin interactions is critical to improving our understanding of this disease. In this paper, we describe, for the first time, a rapid, real-time, multiplex surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay for studying the interaction between insulin and the insulin receptor ectodomain, isoform A (eIR-A). We used a scaffold approach in which anti-insulin receptor monoclonal antibody 83-7 (Abcam, Cambridge, UK) was first immobilized on the SPR sensorchip by amine coupling, followed by eIR-A capture. The multiplex SPR system (ProteOn XPR36™, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA) enabled measurement of replicate interactions with a single, parallel set of analyte injections, whereas repeated regeneration of the scaffold between measurements caused variable loss of antibody activity. Interactions between recombinant human insulin followed a two-site binding pattern, consistent with the literature, with a high-affinity site (dissociation constant K(D1)  = 38.1 ± 0.9 nM) and a low-affinity site (K(D2)  = 166.3 ± 7.3 nM). The predominantly monomeric insulin analogue Lispro had corresponding dissociation constants K(D1)  = 73.2 ± 1.8 nM and K(D2)  = 148.9 ± 6.1 nM, but the fit to kinetic data was improved when we included a conformational change factor in which the high-affinity site was converted to the low-affinity site. The new SPR assay enables insulin-eIR-A interactions to be followed in real time and could potentially be extended to study the effects of humoral factors on the interaction, without the need for insulin labeling.

Deciphering a molecular mechanism of neonatal diabetes mellitus by the chemical synthesis of a protein diastereomer, [D-AlaB8]human proinsulin

Misfolding of proinsulin variants in the pancreatic β-cell, a monogenic cause of permanent neonatal-onset diabetes mellitus, provides a model for a disease of protein toxicity. A hot spot for such clinical mutations is found at position B8, conserved as glycine within the vertebrate insulin superfamily. We set out to investigate the molecular basis of the aberrant properties of a proinsulin clinical mutant in which residue Gly(B8) is replaced by Ser(B8). Modular total chemical synthesis was used to prepare the wild-type [Gly(B8)]proinsulin molecule and three analogs: [D-Ala(B8)]proinsulin, [L-Ala(B8)]proinsulin, and the clinical mutant [L-Ser(B8)]proinsulin. The protein diastereomer [D-Ala(B8)]proinsulin produced higher folding yields at all pH values compared with the wild-type proinsulin and the other two analogs, but showed only very weak binding to the insulin receptor. The clinical mutant [L-Ser(B8)]proinsulin impaired folding at pH 7.5 even in the presence of protein-disulfide isomerase. Surprisingly, although [L-Ser(B8)]proinsulin did not fold well under the physiological conditions investigated, once folded the [L-Ser(B8)]proinsulin protein molecule bound to the insulin receptor more effectively than wild-type proinsulin. Such paradoxical gain of function (not pertinent in vivo due to impaired secretion of the mutant insulin) presumably reflects induced fit in the native mechanism of hormone-receptor engagement. This work provides insight into the molecular mechanism of a clinical mutation in the insulin gene associated with diabetes mellitus. These results dramatically illustrate the power of total protein synthesis, as enabled by modern chemical ligation methods, for the investigation of protein folding and misfolding.

Recent advances with insulin degludec for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes has been referred to as the global epidemic of the 21st century, and is associated with significant morbidity and premature mortality. Estimates suggest that over 50% of people with Type 2 diabetes will at some point need insulin injections to help treat their diabetes. Once daily insulin injections are being increasingly used to initiate insulin in people with Type 2 diabetes and the development of novel, safe, once daily basal insulins with low rates of hypoglycaemia are important to help achieve internationally recommended glycaemic targets for individual patients. Insulin degludec is a novel once daily basal insulin analogue that has been developed for use in people with Type 2 diabetes. A comprehensive drug development program suggests that it can achieve comparable glycaemic control to existing basal insulins but with reduced rates of hypoglycaemia.

Effects of cerebrolysin on rat Schwann cells in vitro

Although the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is capable of regeneration, these processes are limited. As a potential means to augment PNS regeneration, the effects of cerebrolysin (CL), a proteolytic peptide fraction, were tested in vitro on Schwann cell (SC) proliferation, stress resistance, phagocytic and cluster-forming capacity. Primary SC/fibrocyte co-cultures were prepared from dorsal root ganglia of 5-7-day-old rats. SCs were subjected to mechanical stress by media change and metabolic stress by serum glucose deprivation (SGD). Cell survival was assessed using MTT test. SC proliferation was determined by counting BrdU-labeled cells. SC clustering was studied by ImageJ analysis of S100 immunostaining. Wallerian degeneration (WD) was evaluated by measuring acetylcholine-esterase staining within sciatic nerves in vitro. It was found that CL caused no effect on MTT turnover in the tested doses. CL inhibited SC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Media change and additional SGD stress inhibited SC clustering. CL enhanced the reorganization of SC clusters and was able to counteract SGD-induced cluster defects. Moreover, CL accelerated WD in vitro. CL was able to enhance the functions of SCs that are relevant to nerve regeneration. Thus, our findings suggest that CL may be suitable for therapeutic usage to enhance PNS regeneration/reconstruction.

Insight into the structural and biological relevance of the T/R transition of the N-terminus of the B-chain in human insulin

The N-terminus of the B-chain of insulin may adopt two alternative conformations designated as the T- and R-states. Despite the recent structural insight into insulin–insulin receptor (IR) complexes, the physiological relevance of the T/R transition is still unclear. Hence, this study focused on the rational design, synthesis, and characterization of human insulin analogues structurally locked in expected R- or T-states. Sites B3, B5, and B8, capable of affecting the conformation of the N-terminus of the B-chain, were subjects of rational substitutions with amino acids with specific allowed and disallowed dihedral φ and ψ main-chain angles. α-Aminoisobutyric acid was systematically incorporated into positions B3, B5, and B8 for stabilization of the R-state, and N-methylalanine and d-proline amino acids were introduced at position B8 for stabilization of the T-state. IR affinities of the analogues were compared and correlated with their T/R transition ability and analyzed against their crystal and nuclear magnetic resonance structures. Our data revealed that (i) the T-like state is indeed important for the folding efficiency of (pro)insulin, (ii) the R-state is most probably incompatible with an active form of insulin, (iii) the R-state cannot be induced or stabilized by a single substitution at a specific site, and (iv) the B1–B8 segment is capable of folding into a variety of low-affinity T-like states. Therefore, we conclude that the active conformation of the N-terminus of the B-chain must be different from the “classical” T-state and that a substantial flexibility of the B1–B8 segment, where GlyB8 plays a key role, is a crucial prerequisite for an efficient insulin–IR interaction.

Insulin receptor substrate 2-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling selectively inhibits glycogen synthase kinase 3β to regulate aerobic glycolysis

Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and IRS-2 are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins that mediate the activation of signaling pathways in response to ligand stimulation of upstream cell surface receptors. Despite sharing a high level of homology and the ability to activate PI3K, only Irs-2 positively regulates aerobic glycolysis in mammary tumor cells. To determine the contribution of Irs-2-dependent PI3K signaling to this selective regulation, we generated an Irs-2 mutant deficient in the recruitment of PI3K. We identified four tyrosine residues (Tyr-649, Tyr-671, Tyr-734, and Tyr-814) that are essential for the association of PI3K with Irs-2 and demonstrate that combined mutation of these tyrosines inhibits glucose uptake and lactate production, two measures of aerobic glycolysis. Irs-2-dependent activation of PI3K regulates the phosphorylation of specific Akt substrates, most notably glycogen synthase kinase 3β (Gsk-3β). Inhibition of Gsk-3β by Irs-2-dependent PI3K signaling promotes glucose uptake and aerobic glycolysis. The regulation of unique subsets of Akt substrates by Irs-1 and Irs-2 may explain their non-redundant roles in mammary tumor biology. Taken together, our study reveals a novel mechanism by which Irs-2 signaling preferentially regulates tumor cell metabolism and adds to our understanding of how this adaptor protein contributes to breast cancer progression.

The complexity of the IGF1 gene splicing, posttranslational modification and bioactivity

The insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an important factor which regulates a variety of cellular responses in multiple biological systems. The IGF1 gene comprises a highly conserved sequence and contains six exons, which give rise to heterogeneous mRNA transcripts by a combination of multiple transcription initiation sites and alternative splicing. These multiple transcripts code for different precursor IGF-I polypeptides, namely the IGF-IEa, IGF-IEb and IGF-IEc isoforms in humans, which also undergo posttranslational modifications, such as proteolytic processing and glycosylation. IGF-I actions are mediated through its binding to several cell-membrane receptors and the IGF-I domain responsible for the receptor binding is the bioactive mature IGF-I peptide, which is derived after the posttranslational cleavage of the pro-IGF-I isoforms and the removal of their carboxy-terminal E-peptides (that is, the Ea, Eb and Ec). Interestingly, differential biological activities have been reported for the different IGF-I isoforms, or for their E-peptides, implying that IGF-I peptides other than the IGF-I ligand also possess bioactivity and, thus, both common and unique or complementary pathways exist for the IGF-I isoforms to promote biological effects. The multiple peptides derived from IGF-I and the differential expression of its various transcripts in different conditions and pathologies appear to be compatible with the distinct cellular responses observed to the different IGF-I peptides and with the concept of a complex and possibly isoform-specific IGF-I bioactivity. This concept is discussed in the present review, in the context of the broad range of modifications that this growth factor undergoes which might regulate its mechanism(s) of action.

Novel tools for prostate cancer prognosis, diagnosis, and follow-up

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the main diagnostic tool when it comes to prostate cancer but it possesses serious limitations. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more sensitive and specific biomarkers for prostate cancer prognosis and patient follow-up. Recent advances led to the discovery of many novel diagnostic/prognostic techniques and provided us with many worthwhile candidates. This paper briefly reviews the most promising biomarkers with respect to their implementation in screening, early detection, diagnostic confirmation, prognosis, and prediction of therapeutic response or monitoring disease and recurrence; and their use as possible therapeutic targets. This review also examines the possible future directions in the field of prostate cancer marker research.

Mechanisms of activation of receptor tyrosine kinases: monomers or dimers

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play essential roles in cellular processes, including metabolism, cell-cycle control, survival, proliferation, motility and differentiation. RTKs are all synthesized as single-pass transmembrane proteins and bind polypeptide ligands, mainly growth factors. It has long been thought that all RTKs, except for the insulin receptor (IR) family, are activated by ligand-induced dimerization of the receptors. An increasing number of diverse studies, however, indicate that RTKs, previously thought to exist as monomers, are present as pre-formed, yet inactive, dimers prior to ligand binding. The non-covalently associated dimeric structures are reminiscent of those of the IR family, which has a disulfide-linked dimeric structure. Furthermore, recent progress in structural studies has provided insight into the underpinnings of conformational changes during the activation of RTKs. In this review, I discuss two mutually exclusive models for the mechanisms of activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, the neurotrophin receptor and IR families, based on these new insights.

Chemical synthesis of insulin analogs through a novel precursor

Insulin remains a challenging synthetic target due in large part to its two-chain, disulfide-constrained structure. Biomimetic single chain precursors inspired by proinsulin that utilize short peptides to join the A and B chains can dramatically enhance folding efficiency. Systematic chemical analysis of insulin precursors using an optimized synthetic protocol identified a 49 amino acid peptide named DesDi, which folds with high efficiency by virtue of an optimized structure and could be proteolytically converted to bioactive two-chain insulin. In subsequent applications, we observed that the folding of the DesDi precursor was highly tolerant to amino acid substitution at various insulin residues. The versatility of DesDi as a synthetic insulin precursor was demonstrated through the preparation of several alanine mutants (A10, A16, A18, B12, B15), as well as ValA16, an analog that was unattainable in prior reports. In vitro bioanalysis highlighted the importance of the native, hydrophobic residues at A16 and B15 as part of the core structure of the hormone and revealed the significance of the A18 residue to receptor selectivity. We propose that the DesDi precursor is a versatile synthetic intermediate for the preparation of diverse insulin analogs. It should enable a more comprehensive analysis of function to insulin structure than might not be otherwise possible through conventional approaches.

New insights into IGF-1 signaling in the heart

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling regulates contractility, metabolism, hypertrophy, autophagy, senescence, and apoptosis in the heart. IGF-1 deficiency is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, whereas cardiac activation of IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) protects from the detrimental effects of a high-fat diet and myocardial infarction. IGF-1R activates multiple pathways through its intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and through coupling to heterotrimeric G protein. These pathways involve classic second messengers, phosphorylation cascades, lipid signaling, Ca(2+) transients, and gene expression. In addition, IGF-1R triggers signaling in different subcellular locations including the plasma membrane, perinuclear T tubules, and also in internalized vesicles. In this review, we provide a fresh and updated view of the complex IGF-1 scenario in the heart, including a critical focus on therapeutic strategies.

Role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in the modulation of insulin signaling and their implication in the pathogenesis of obesity-linked insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is a major disorder that links obesity to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). It involves defects in the insulin actions owing to a reduced ability of insulin to trigger key signaling pathways in major metabolic tissues. The pathogenesis of insulin resistance involves several inhibitory molecules that interfere with the tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and its downstream effectors. Among those, growing interest has been developed toward the protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), a large family of enzymes that can inactivate crucial signaling effectors in the insulin signaling cascade by dephosphorylating their tyrosine residues. Herein we briefly review the role of several PTPs that have been shown to be implicated in the regulation of insulin action, and then focus on the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing SHP1 and SHP2 enzymes, since recent reports have indicated major roles for these PTPs in the control of insulin action and glucose metabolism. Finally, the therapeutic potential of targeting PTPs for combating insulin resistance and alleviating T2D will be discussed.

Inhibition of type I insulin-like growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase by picropodophyllin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in T lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma

It has been recently shown that the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) contributes significantly to the survival of T lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-LBL) cells, and it was therefore suggested that IGF-IR could represent a legitimate therapeutic target in this aggressive disease. Picropodophyllin (PPP) is a potent, selective inhibitor of IGF-IR that is currently used with notable success in clinical trials that include patients with aggressive types of epithelial tumors. In the present study, we tested the effects of PPP on Jurkat and Molt-3 cells; two prototype T-LBL cell lines. Our results demonstrate that PPP efficiently induced apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest of these two cells. These effects were attributable to alterations of downstream target proteins. By using proteomic analysis, seven different proteins were found to be affected by PPP treatment of Jurkat cells. These proteins are involved in various aspects of cellular metabolism, cytoskeleton organization and signal transduction pathways. The results suggest that PPP affects multiple signaling molecules and inhibits fundamental pathways that control cell growth and survival. Our study also provides novel evidence that PPP could be potentially utilized for the treatment of aggressive T-LBL.

Improved glucose metabolism in vitro and in vivo by an allosteric monoclonal antibody that increases insulin receptor binding affinity

Previously we reported studies of XMetA, an agonist antibody to the insulin receptor (INSR). We have now utilized phage display to identify XMetS, a novel monoclonal antibody to the INSR. Biophysical studies demonstrated that XMetS bound to the human and mouse INSR with picomolar affinity. Unlike monoclonal antibody XMetA, XMetS alone had little or no agonist effect on the INSR. However, XMetS was a strong positive allosteric modulator of the INSR that increased the binding affinity for insulin nearly 20-fold. XMetS potentiated insulin-stimulated INSR signaling ∼15-fold or greater including; autophosphorylation of the INSR, phosphorylation of Akt, a major enzyme in the metabolic pathway, and phosphorylation of Erk, a major enzyme in the growth pathway. The enhanced signaling effects of XMetS were more pronounced with Akt than with Erk. In cultured cells, XMetS also enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose transport. In contrast to its effects on the INSR, XMetS did not potentiate IGF-1 activation of the IGF-1 receptor. We studied the effect of XMetS treatment in two mouse models of insulin resistance and diabetes. The first was the diet induced obesity mouse, a hyperinsulinemic, insulin resistant animal, and the second was the multi-low dose streptozotocin/high-fat diet mouse, an insulinopenic, insulin resistant animal. In both models, XMetS normalized fasting blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance. In concert with its ability to potentiate insulin action at the INSR, XMetS reduced insulin and C-peptide levels in both mouse models. XMetS improved the response to exogenous insulin without causing hypoglycemia. These data indicate that an allosteric monoclonal antibody can be generated that markedly enhances the binding affinity of insulin to the INSR. These data also suggest that an INSR monoclonal antibody with these characteristics may have the potential to both improve glucose metabolism in insulinopenic type 2 diabetes mellitus and correct compensatory hyperinsulinism in insulin resistant conditions.

The insulin receptor translocates to the nucleus to regulate cell proliferation in liver

Insulin's metabolic effects in the liver are widely appreciated, but insulin's ability to act as a hepatic mitogen is less well understood. Because the insulin receptor (IR) can traffic to the nucleus, and Ca(2+) signals within the nucleus regulate cell proliferation, we investigated whether insulin's mitogenic effects result from activation of Ca(2+)-signaling pathways by IRs within the nucleus. Insulin-induced increases in Ca(2+) and cell proliferation depended upon clathrin- and caveolin-dependent translocation of the IR to the nucleus, as well as upon formation of inositol 1,4,5,-trisphosphate (InsP3) in the nucleus, whereas insulin's metabolic effects did not depend on either of these events. Moreover, liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy also depended upon the formation of InsP3 in the nucleus, but not the cytosol, whereas hepatic glucose metabolism was not affected by buffering InsP3 in the nucleus.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide evidence that insulin's mitogenic effects are mediated by a subpopulation of IRs that traffic to the nucleus to locally activate InsP3 -dependent Ca(2+)-signaling pathways. The steps along this signaling pathway reveal a number of potential targets for therapeutic modulation of liver growth in health and disease.