Specificity of insulin signalling in human skeletal muscle as revealed by small interfering RNA

Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 Signaling Inhibits Foxp3 Expression and Suppressive Functions in Treg Cells through the mTORC1 Pathway

Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in immune homeostasis by inhibiting cells within the innate and adaptive immune systems; therefore, the stability and immunosuppressive function of Treg cells need to be maintained. In this study, we found that the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) by Treg cells was lower than that by conventional CD4 T cells. IRS1-overexpressing Treg cells showed the downregulated expression of FOXP3, as well as Treg signature markers CD25 and CTLA4. IRS1-overexpressing Treg cells also showed diminished immunosuppressive functions in an in vitro suppression assay. Moreover, IRS1-overexpressing Treg cells were unable to suppress the pathogenic effects of conventional T cells in a transfer-induced colitis model. IRS1 activated the mTORC1 signaling pathway, a negative regulator of Treg cells. Moreover, IRS1 destabilized Treg cells by upregulating the expression of IFN-γ and Glut1. Thus, IRS1 acts as a negative regulator of Treg cells by downregulating the expression of FOXP3 and disrupting stability.

Activation of Insulin Signaling in Adipocytes and Myotubes by Sarcopoterium Spinosum Extract

Sarcopoterium spinosum (S. spinosum) is a medicinal plant, traditionally used as an antidiabetic remedy. Previous studies demonstrated its beneficial properties in the treatment of insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to further clarify the effect of S. spinosum extract (SSE) on insulin signaling. Phosphoproteomic analysis, performed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with SSE, revealed the activation of insulin receptor pathways. SSE increased Glut4-facilitated glucose uptake in adipocytes, with an additive effect between SSE and insulin. While the maximal effect of insulin on glucose uptake was found at days 15–16 of differentiation, SSE-induced glucose uptake was found at an earlier stage of differentiation. Inhibition of PI3K and Akt blocked SSE-dependent glucose uptake. Western blot analysis, performed on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes, showed that in contrast to insulin action, Akt was only marginally phosphorylated by SSE. Furthermore, GSK3β and PRAS40 phosphorylation as well as glucose uptake were increased by the extract. SSE also induced the phosphorylation of ERK similar to insulin. In conclusion, SSE activates insulin signaling, although the upstream event mediating its effects should be further clarified. Identifying the active molecules in SSE may lead to the development of new agents for the treatment of insulin resistance.

A novel method to measure glucose uptake and myosin heavy chain isoform expression of single fibers from rat skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle includes many individual fibers with diverse phenotypes. A barrier to understanding muscle glucose uptake at the cellular level has been the absence of a method to measure glucose uptake by single fibers from mammalian skeletal muscle. This study's primary objective was to develop a procedure to measure glucose uptake by single fibers from rat skeletal muscle. Rat epitrochlearis muscles were incubated ex vivo with [(3)H]-2-deoxy-d-glucose, with or without insulin or AICAR, before isolation of ~10-30 single fibers from each muscle. Fiber type (myosin heavy chain [MHC] isoform) and glucose uptake were determined for each single fiber. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (which was cytochalasin B inhibitable) varied according to MHC isoform expression, with ~2-fold greater values for IIA versus IIB or IIX fibers and ~1.3-fold greater for hybrid (IIB/X) versus IIB fibers. In contrast, AICAR-stimulated glucose uptake was ~1.5-fold greater for IIB versus IIA fibers. A secondary objective was to assess insulin resistance of single fibers from obese versus lean Zucker rats. Genotype differences were observed for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and inhibitor κB (IκB)-β abundance in single fibers (obese less than lean), with decrements for glucose uptake (44-58%) and IκB-β (25-32%) in each fiber type. This novel method creates a unique opportunity for future research focused on understanding muscle glucose uptake at the cellular level.

Inhibitory effect of the D(3) dopamine receptor on insulin receptor expression and function in vascular smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is regulated by numerous hormones and humoral factors. Our previous study found that stimulation of D(1)-like dopamine receptors inhibited insulin receptor expression and function in VSMCs. We hypothesize that there is also an interaction between D(3) dopamine and insulin receptors, i.e., stimulation of the D(3) receptor inhibits insulin receptor expression and function.

METHODS

Receptor expression was determined by immunoblotting, immunohistochemisty, and reverse transcriptase-PCR; VSMC proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cell number.

RESULTS

Insulin receptor protein is increased in the aorta of D(3) receptor deficient mice. Stimulation of the D(3) receptor inhibited insulin receptor mRNA and protein expression and insulin-mediated VSMC proliferation, and increased protein kinase A (PKA) activity, insulin receptor phosphorylation, and degradation in immortalized aortic VSMCs (A10 cells). These effects were blocked by a PKA inhibitor, indicating that the D(3) receptor-mediated decrease in insulin receptor expression was related to a decrease in transcription/post-transcription and increased degradation, involving PKA signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

D(3) receptor stimulation may be a target to reduce the adverse effect of insulin in hypertension by inhibition of insulin receptor expression and function in arterial VSMCs.