Characterization of insulin-degrading activity of intact and subcellular components of human fibroblasts

The Insulin-Degrading Enzyme from Structure to Allosteric Modulation: New Perspectives for Drug Design

The insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a Zn2+ peptidase originally discovered as the main enzyme involved in the degradation of insulin and other amyloidogenic peptides, such as the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide. Therefore, a role for the IDE in the cure of diabetes and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been long envisaged. Anyway, its role in degrading amyloidogenic proteins remains not clearly defined and, more recently, novel non-proteolytic functions of the IDE have been proposed. From a structural point of view, the IDE presents an atypical clamshell structure, underscoring unique enigmatic enzymological properties. A better understanding of the structure-function relationship may contribute to solving some existing paradoxes of IDE biology and, in light of its multifunctional activity, might lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

Transcriptome and proteome expressions involved in insulin resistance in muscle and activated T-lymphocytes of patients with type 2 diabetes

We analyzed the genes expressed (transcriptomes) and the proteins translated (pro- teomes) in muscle tissues and activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-lymphocytes (T-cells) of five Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) subjects using Affymetrix microarrays and mass spectrometry, and compared them with matched non-diabetic controls. Gene expressions of insulin receptor (INSR), vitamin D receptor, insulin degrading enzyme, Akt, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), IRS-2, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and enzymes of the glycolytic pathway were decreased at least 50% in T2DM than in controls. However, there was greater than two-fold gene upregulation of plasma cell glycoprotein-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha, and gluconeogenic enzymes in T2DM than in controls. The gene silencing for INSR or TNFalpha resulted in the inhibition or stimulation of GLUT4, respectively. Proteome profiles corresponding to molecular weights of the above translated transcriptomes showed different patterns of changes between T2DM and controls. Meanwhile, changes in transcriptomes and proteomes between muscle and activated T-cells of T2DM were comparable. Activated T-cells, analogous to muscle cells, expressed insulin signaling and glucose metabolism genes and gene products. In conclusion, T-cells and muscle in T2DM exhibited differences in expression of certain genes and gene products relative to non-diabetic controls. These alterations in transcriptomes and proteomes in T2DM may be involved in insulin resistance.

De novo emergence of growth factor receptors in activated human CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes

Using phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated human T lymphocytes, we have demonstrated de novo emergence of growth factor receptors (insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], and interleukin-2 [IL-2]) in the CD4(+) and CD8(+) subsets determined by flow cytometry. This activation was also associated with development of insulin-degrading activity (IDA) in a time-dependent fashion. These events, which are actinomycin- and cycloheximide-sensitive, occur only in activated, but not nonactivated, CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes. The emergence of these receptors, as well as IDA, which is preceded by CD69 emergence, reaches a plateau by 72 hours and is comparable in both subsets. The IDA is localized in the cytosol, and insulin binding is limited to the cell membrane. T-lymphocyte activation also initiates expression of the IL-2 gene with the transcription of IL-2 mRNA, the level of which is further enhanced by 38% with the addition of insulin. In these activated lymphocytes, insulin binding to its receptor also caused an 83% upregulation of phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). In situ development of these growth factor receptors and signal transduction mechanisms in T lymphocytes upon activation, such as by proinflammatory cytokines or oxidative stress, could be an important defense mechanism in various disease states in man.

Insulin inhibition of protein degradation in cells expressing wild-type and mutant insulin receptors

The mechanism by which insulin decreases protein degradation is unknown. We examined insulin binding and degradation (125I[A14]insulin) and protein degradation (3H-leucine labeling) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with wild-type (WI) and mutant human insulin receptors. The deltaExon-16 mutant is missing the juxtamembrane domain that mediates endocytosis. The delta343 mutant receptor lacks the tyrosine kinase structural domain but retains the juxtamembrane internalization domain. The mutant deltaNPEY lacks the single NPEY sequence located 16 residues after the end of the transmembrane domain. Null transfected cells (NEO) not expressing human receptors were studied as controls. The WT and deltaNPEY cells equivalently internalized and degraded insulin; delta343 cells internalized and degraded insulin, but at a reduced rate; deltaExon-16 cells internalized and degraded significantly less insulin than the other mutants; NEO cells showed essentially no internalization and degradation. In contrast, all cell types showed the same efficacy at inhibition of protein degradation, albeit at different potencies. These results suggest insulin actions are mediated by multiple and redundant effector systems, but that receptor tyrosine kinase activity is not required for inhibition of protein degradation.

Insulin-degrading enzyme regulates extracellular levels of amyloid beta-protein by degradation

Excessive cerebral accumulation of the 42-residue amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is an early and invariant step in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Many studies have examined the cellular production of Abeta from its membrane-bound precursor, including the role of the presenilin proteins therein, but almost nothing is known about how Abeta is degraded and cleared following its secretion. We previously screened neuronal and nonneuronal cell lines for the production of proteases capable of degrading naturally secreted Abeta under biologically relevant conditions and concentrations. The major such protease identified was a metalloprotease released particularly by a microglial cell line, BV-2. We have now purified and characterized the protease and find that it is indistinguishable from insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), a thiol metalloendopeptidase that degrades small peptides such as insulin, glucagon, and atrial natriuretic peptide. Degradation of both endogenous and synthetic Abeta at picomolar to nanomolar concentrations was completely inhibited by the competitive IDE substrate, insulin, and by two other IDE inhibitors. Immunodepletion of conditioned medium with an IDE antibody removed its Abeta-degrading activity. IDE was present in BV-2 cytosol, as expected, but was also released into the medium by intact, healthy cells. To confirm the extracellular occurrence of IDE in vivo, we identified intact IDE in human cerebrospinal fluid of both normal and Alzheimer subjects. In addition to its ability to degrade Abeta, IDE activity was unexpectedly found be associated with a time-dependent oligomerization of synthetic Abeta at physiological levels in the conditioned media of cultured cells; this process, which may be initiated by IDE-generated proteolytic fragments of Abeta, was prevented by three different IDE inhibitors. We conclude that a principal protease capable of down-regulating the levels of secreted Abeta extracellularly is IDE.

Insulin degradation: progress and potential

Insulin degradation is a regulated process that plays a role in controlling insulin action by removing and inactivating the hormone. Abnormalities in insulin clearance and degradation are present in various pathological conditions including type 2 diabetes and obesity and may be important in producing clinical problems. The uptake, processing, and degradation of insulin by cells is a complex process with multiple intracellular pathways. Most evidence supports IDE as the primary degradative mechanism, but other systems (PDI, lysosomes, and other enzymes) undoubtedly contribute to insulin metabolism. Recent studies support a multifunctional role for IDE, as an intracellular binding, regulatory, and degradative protein. IDE increases proteasome and steroid hormone receptor activity, and this activation is reversed by insulin. This raises the possibility of a direct intracellular interaction of insulin with IDE that could modulate protein and fat metabolism. The recent findings would place intracellular insulin-IDE interaction into the insulin signal transduction pathway for mediating the intermediate effects of insulin on fat and protein turnover.

Investigation into the presence of insulin-degrading enzyme in cultured type II alveolar cells and the effects of enzyme inhibitors on pulmonary bioavailability of insulin in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE, EC 3.4.22.11) in insulin degradation in alveolar epithelium. The primary culture of isolated rat type-II pneumocytes was used for the in-vitro characterization of IDE. Insulin was then administered intratracheally with various inhibitors to assess the improvement in its pulmonary bioavailability. In cultured type-II pneumocytes, the cytosolic insulin-degrading activity contributed 81% of total insulin degradation, reached a maximum at pH 7.5 and had an apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) of 135 nM. N-Ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline inhibited insulin-degrading activity almost completely in both crude homogenate and cytosol. An immunoprecipitation study showed that IDE contributed 74% of cytosolic insulin-degrading activity. Western blot analysis showing a single band of 110 kDa on reduced SDS (sodium dodecylsulphate) gels confirmed the presence of IDE in cultured type-II cells. When given intratracheally with insulin, inhibitors including N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, and 1,10-phenanthroline significantly enhanced the absolute bioavailability of insulin and the compound's hypoglycaemic effects. These results suggest that IDE is present in alveolar epithelium and might be involved in limiting insulin absorption in the lung.

Insulin degradation by Madin-Darby canine kidney cells expressing the insulin receptor

Prior studies have shown that Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) overexpressing the human insulin receptor bind and respond normally to insulin (T.C. Yeh, R.A. Roth, Diabetes 43 (1994) 1297-1303). Moreover, the insulin receptor preferentially localizes to the basolateral membrane of these cells. In the present studies, insulin was added to either the apical or the basolateral side of these cells and the extent of degradation of the insulin was assessed. Radioactive insulin added to either side was bound to its receptor and the radioactivity which reached the other side of the cell was to a large extent degraded fragments. Insulin added to the apical side was degraded to a larger extent (83%) than when added to the basolateral side (49%) although the basolateral side has much more insulin receptors than the apical side. This degradation process was not inhibitors of either lysosomal enzymes, the proteasome complex or cathepsins. The degradation process could however, be potently inhibited by the sulfhydryl alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide. Further, cell surface biotinylation study showed that the insulin degrading enzyme was preferentially localized on the apical membranes. These results suggest that insulin added on the apical side of MDCK cells are more closely linked to the degradation process than that added on the basolateral side.

Brefeldin A inhibits insulin-dependent receptor redistribution in HIRcB cells

Brefeldin A (BFA) is a potent inhibitor of intracellular vesicle traffic. We have investigated the effects of BFA on the traffic of the insulin receptor in HIRcB cells, a cell line derived from Rat-1 fibroblasts that over-expresses a normal human insulin receptor. We report here that insulin-dependent receptor redistribution is inhibited by BFA and that this drug has no effects on the insulin-dependent redistribution of the receptor. Auto-phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and the stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by insulin were not affected by treatment with the drug. The effects of BFA were further shown to require addition of the drug prior to the addition of insulin. BFA added 10 min after stimulation with insulin had no effects on the redistribution of the receptor. Dose-response studies demonstrated that the effects of BFA were half-maximal at a dose of 1 microgram/ml and maximal at about 10 micrograms/ml. These findings suggest that BFA blocks an early step in the chain of events that lead to insulin receptor internalization without affecting the interactions of the receptor with insulin, the stimulation of the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor by the hormone, or other insulin-regulated signalling pathways, such as the activation of MAPK.

Detection of the substance immunologically cross-reactive with insulin in insulin RIA is an artifact caused by insulin tracer degradation: involvement of the insulin-degrading enzyme

In previous literature, the existence of a new insulin-like substance found in tumor tissues, termed substance immunologically cross-reactive with insulin (SICRI), has been proposed. In these studies, insulin-specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) was the only detection method for SICRI. The mouse melanoma B16BL6 cell line was found to be a rich source of SICRI. In this paper, we show that SICRI is not expressed in B16BL6 cells. Previous RIA measurements were wrongly ascribed to SICRI. What was really measured was a positive artifact caused by insulin tracer degradation in RIA. Several lines of evidence indicate that protease responsible for insulin degradation in B16BL6 cells in insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE; EC 3.4.22.11). First, SICRI activity of B16BL6 cytosol measured by insulin RIA was inhibited by thiol protease inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Thiol active agents as well as metal chelators, both potent IDE blockers, inhibited also the insulin-degrading activity of the same sample. Second, cross-linking to 125I-labeled insulin of partially purified sample with highest insulin RIA activity specifically labeled only a single protein with molecular mass similar to IDE (110 kDa). Labeling was blocked by 'cold' insulin in excess. Third, kinetic studies of insulin degradation by RIA active chromatographic fractions revealed an apparent Kd of 90 nM which is very similar to the reported affinity of insulin for IDE (Kd = 100 nM). Additionally, in B16BL6 as well as in mouse myeloid leukemia cells, IDE gene is actively transcribed and this expression was found to be much stronger than in normal mouse tissues. In conclusion, our results strongly question the real existence of SICRI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization and partial purification of an insulinase from Neurospora crassa

An insulin-binding metal- and thiol-dependent proteinase has been purified 1491-fold from high speed cytosolic fractions of the fungus Neurospora crassa. This enzyme resembles insulin-degrading enzymes (insulinases) present in mammalian cells and in Drosophila melanogaster in the following ways: (i) it degrades radiolabeled insulin with a specificity similar to that of rat muscle insulinase, as demonstrated by HPLC analysis of the degradation products; (ii) it is inhibited by bacitracin, EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, and the sulfhydryl-reactive compounds N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzoate, but not by inhibitors of serine proteases or by lysosomal protease inhibitors. Cross-linking with 125I-insulin labels a band of ca. 120 kDa, and several smaller bands which may represent degradation products. The N. crassa insulinase is stimulated by Mn2+ and strongly inhibited by Zn2+; Mn2+ can also reactivate the enzyme after inhibition by EDTA, but Zn2+ is ineffective. The N. crassa protein differs in this regard from mammalian and insect insulinases which are generally activated by both Mn2+ and Zn2+. This finding extends the apparent evolutionary conservation of these metal- and thiol-dependent proteases into the microbial realm.

Identification of the metal associated with the insulin degrading enzyme

Insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) is a thiol-dependent metalloendoprotease that is responsible for initiation of cellular insulin degradation. However, its exact mode of action and the factors controlling it are poorly understood. Since IDE is a metal requiring enzyme, we have examined which metal(s) is(are) endogenously associated with it. Using neutron activation analysis, we studied the metal content of a partially purified enzyme from three different tissues: rat skeletal muscle, rat liver, and human placenta. Our results indicate that zinc and manganese are associated with the enzyme with approximately 10 times more zinc as manganese being present. These results suggest that one or both of these two metals are endogenously associated with this enzyme and are a means of controlling the enzyme's activity.

The insulin-like effects of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in the isolated fat cell

Recent data from many laboratories suggest that insulin stimulates diacylglycerol formation. Data presented in this manuscript demonstrate an insulin-like effect of PMA, a tumor promoting agent that mimics the action of diacylglycerol, in isolated adipocytes on; (a) glucose oxidation using uniformly labelled, C-1-labelled and C-6-labelled glucose, (b) epinephrine-induced lipolysis and (c) low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase activity. Additionally, a lipolytic effect of PMA is identified when unopposed by epinephrine. These data not only demonstrate an insulin-like effect of phorbol esters in adipose tissue but they lend support to the concept of diacylglycerol involvement in the mechanism of insulin action.

Insulin binding, internalization, and degradation by a cultured kidney cell line

Proximal tubules are a key site of insulin metabolism, which is in part a receptor-mediated process. To explore the interaction between insulin and the kidney and to evaluate the role of receptors in insulin uptake and processing, a study was carried out with a cultured proximal-like opossum kidney (OK) cell line. 125I-insulin associated with confluent monolayers in a specific manner, and this interaction was competitively inhibited by insulin; unrelated peptides were relatively ineffective. Insulin degradation exhibited time and temperature dependency and up to a concentration of 5 X 10(-8) M was not saturable. Degradation exhibited partial hormone specificity. Separation of plasma membrane bound from internalized insulin was achieved by lowering extracellular pH. At 4 degrees C, 94% of cell-associated radioactivity was membrane bound, whereas at 37 degrees C, in the steady state, 33% was membrane bound and 67% was internalized. There was a significant correlation between membrane-bound insulin and the rate of degradation. These findings reveal that the binding and processing of insulin by the kidney cell line are compatible with the description of the uptake of filtered insulin by the proximal tubule in the intact kidney. Accordingly we conclude that this cell line provides a good model for studying renal epithelial uptake and metabolism of insulin.

Insulin-degrading enzyme is capable of degrading receptor-bound insulin

In the investigation of the intracellular sites of insulin degradation, it might be important whether receptor-bound insulin could be a substrate for insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). Insulin receptor and IDE were purified from rat liver using a wheat germ agglutinin column and monoclonal anti-IDE antibody affinity column, respectively. [125I]insulin-receptor complex was incubated with various amounts of IDE at 0 degree C in the presence of disuccinimidyl suberate and analyzed by reduced 7.5% SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. With increasing amounts of IDE, the radioactivity of 135 kd band (insulin receptor alpha-subunit) decreased, whereas that of 110 kd band (IDE) appeared then gradually increased, suggesting that IDE could bind to receptor-bound insulin. During incubation of insulin-receptor complex with IDE at 37 degrees C, about half of the [125I]insulin was dissociated from the complex. However, the time course of [125I]insulin degradation in this incubation was essentially identical to that of free [125I]insulin degradation. Cross-linked, non-dissociable receptor-bound [125I]insulin was also degraded by IDE. Rebinding studies to IM-9 cells showed that the receptor binding activity of dissociated [125I]insulin from insulin-receptor complex incubated with IDE was significantly (p less than 0.001) decreased as compared with that without the enzyme. These results, therefore, show that IDE could recognize and degrade receptor-bound insulin, and suggest that IDE may be involved in insulin metabolism during receptor-mediated endocytosis through the degradation of receptor-bound insulin in early neutral vesicles before their internal pH is acidified.

Intermediate peptides of insulin degradation in liver and cultured hepatocytes of rats

1. Bestatin, a microbial aminopeptidase inhibitor, induced accumulation of low-molecular weight intermediate peptides of insulin degradation in liver of rats in vivo and in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. However, bestatin did not affect the association and internalization of the hormone into hepatic cells. 2. Results of the HPLC analyses showed that the intermediate peptides of insulin degradation are small ones and specifically accumulate only in the presence of bestatin. 3. The above results, together with those employing other protease inhibitors, show that cytosolic bestatin-sensitive protease(s), trypsin-like protease(s) and thiol protease(s) play an important role in the intracellular degradation process of insulin.

Possible role of cell surface insulin degrading enzyme in cultured human lymphocytes

The kinetic changes of insulin receptors and cell surface insulin degrading enzyme were examined in Bri-7 cultured human lymphocytes after preincubation with or without insulin. The concentration of cell surface insulin degrading enzyme was determined by immunoenzymatic labeling method using a polyclonal antiserum to insulin degrading enzyme. In Bri-7 cells preincubated with 10(-10) to 10(-5) mol/l insulin for 18 h, the surface insulin receptors and insulin degrading enzyme decreased progressively as a function of the concentration of insulin in the preincubation medium. The surface insulin receptors and insulin degrading enzyme of cells preincubated with 10(-6) mol/l insulin were decreased to 25 and 35% of the control respectively. In Bri-7 cells preincubated with 10(-6) mol/l insulin for 30 min to 18 h, the loss of surface insulin degrading enzyme was slightly slower than that of the receptors; however, the curves were essentially parallel to each other. Thus, the treatment of Bri-7 cells with insulin caused down-regulation of insulin receptors in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell surface insulin degrading enzyme also decreased simultaneously. A combination of several insulin degradation assays (trichloroacetic acid precipitation, gel filtration and receptor rebinding) demonstrated that cell surface bound insulin remained intact, and that the degradation in Bri-7 cells seemed to be a limiting proteolysis of insulin. Furthermore, by the receptor rebinding method insulin degrading activity in cells after preincubation with 10(-6) mol/l insulin (19.6 +/- 4.6%) was decreased, although not significantly, as compared with cells after preincubation without insulin (24.6 +/- 4.8%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) activated human T-lymphocytes: concomitant appearance of insulin binding, degradation and insulin-mediated activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH)

Binding and degradation of A14125I-Insulin as well as the effect of insulin on pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activation were studied in non-stimulated and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated thymic-derived lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes) of man under varying conditions of time, temperature, and cell concentration. The nonstimulated viable T-lymphocytes exhibited neither binding, degradation, nor PDH activation in response to insulin. With PHA stimulation, a time and temperature-dependent binding was noted in T-lymphocytes which paralleled the appearance of cell-associated insulin degrading activity. Concomitant with the emergence of insulin binding and degrading activities in these cells, PDH activation was observed which was responsive to as little as 5.0 microU/ml of insulin. We conclude that in PHA-activated T-lymphocytes of man the process of insulin binding and degradation is closely related to insulin sensitive activation of PDH. These activated cells may serve as a useful model in which to study insulin binding and processing, as well as effects of insulin on postreceptor events.

The effect of inhibitors of insulin processing on generation of insulin intermediate products from human fibroblast as detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

To assess the role of various modulators of insulin processing on cell-associated A14-125I-insulin intermediates in human fibroblasts, we have studied the effect of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), chloroquine, bacitracin, dansylcadavarine, and phenylarsine oxide on generation of these intermediate products with the use of HPLC. NEM completely inhibited generation of intermediate peaks or iodotyrosine. Chloroquine inhibited conversion of A14-125I-insulin to iodotyrosine by about 75 percent and the remaining A14-125I-insulin was not susceptible to acid wash. Bacitracin, dansylcadavarine, and phenylarsine oxide, on the other hand, stimulated formation of intermediate products with concomitant inhibition of iodotyrosine formation. We conclude that there are at least three components of insulin degradation in human fibroblasts. These include the sulfhydryl group inhibitor-sensitive, the intracellular chloroquine-sensitive, and membrane site inhibitor-sensitive components.