Amira Klip

Protein Kinase B/Akt Participates in GLUT4 Translocation by Insulin in L6 Myoblasts

ABSTRACT L6 myoblasts stably transfected with a GLUT4 cDNA harboring an exofacial myc epitope tag (L6-GLUT4myc myoblasts) were used to study the role of protein kinase B alpha (PKBα)/Akt1 in the insulin-induced translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface. Surface GLUT4myc was detected by immunofluorescent labeling of the myc epitope in nonpermeabilized cells. Insulin induced a marked translocation of GLUT4myc to the plasma membrane within 20 min. This was prevented by transient transfection of a dominant inhibitory construct of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase (Δp85α). Transiently transfected cells were identified by cotransfection of green fluorescent protein. A constitutively active PKBα, created by fusion of a viral Gag protein at its N terminus (GagPKB), increased the cell surface density of GLUT4myc compared to that of neighboring nontransfected cells. A kinase-inactive, phosphorylation-deficient PKBα/Akt1 construct with the mutations K179A (substitution of alanine for the lysine at position 179), T308A, and S473A (AAA-PKB) behaved as a dominant-negative inhibitor of insulin-dependent activation of cotransfected wild-type hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged PKB. Furthermore, AAA-PKB markedly inhibited the insulin-induced phosphorylation of cotransfected BAD, demonstrating inhibition of the endogenous PKB/Akt. Under the same conditions, AAA-PKB almost entirely blocked the insulin-dependent increase in surface GLUT4myc. PKBα with alanine substitutions T308A and S473A (AA-PKB) or K179A (A-PKB) alone was a less potent inhibitor of insulin-dependent activation of wild-type HA-PKB or GLUT4myc translocation than was AAA-PKB. Cotransfection of AAA-PKB with a fourfold DNA excess of HA-PKB rescued insulin-stimulated GLUT4myc translocation. AAA-PKB did not prevent actin bundling (membrane ruffling), though this response was PI 3-kinase dependent. Therefore, it is unlikely that AAA-PKB acted by inhibiting PI 3-kinase signaling. These results outline an important role for PKBα/Akt1 in the stimulation of glucose transport by insulin in muscle cells in culture.

An Inhibitor of p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Prevents Insulin-stimulated Glucose Transport but Not Glucose Transporter Translocation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and L6 Myotubes

The precise mechanisms underlying insulin-stimulated glucose transport still require investigation. Here we assessed the effect of SB203580, an inhibitor of the p38 MAP kinase family, on insulin-stimulated glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes. We found that SB203580, but not its inactive analogue (SB202474), prevented insulin-stimulated glucose transport in both cell types with an IC50 similar to that for inhibition of p38 MAP kinase (0.6 μm). Basal glucose uptake was not affected. Moreover, SB203580 added only during the transport assay did not inhibit basal or insulin-stimulated transport. SB203580 did not inhibit insulin-stimulated translocation of the glucose transporters GLUT1 or GLUT4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes as assessed by immunoblotting of subcellular fractions or by immunofluorescence of membrane lawns. L6 muscle cells expressing GLUT4 tagged on an extracellular domain with a Myc epitope (GLUT4myc) were used to assess the functional insertion of GLUT4 into the plasma membrane. SB203580 did not affect the insulin-induced gain in GLUT4myc exposure at the cell surface but largely reduced the stimulation of glucose uptake. SB203580 had no effect on insulin-dependent insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphorylation, association of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with insulin receptor substrate-1, nor on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt1, Akt2, or Akt3 activities in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In conclusion, in the presence of SB203580, insulin caused normal translocation and cell surface membrane insertion of glucose transporters without stimulating glucose transport. We propose that insulin stimulates two independent signals contributing to stimulation of glucose transport: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase leads to glucose transporter translocation and a pathway involving p38 MAP kinase leads to activation of the recruited glucose transporter at the membrane.

Regulation of expression of glucose transporters by glucose: a review of studies in vivo and in cell cultures.

Glucose transporters are membrane‐embedded proteins that mediate the uptake of glucose from the surrounding medium into the cell. Glucose is the main fuel for most cells, and its uptake is rate‐limiting for glucose utilization. For this reason, it is expected that glucose transport is tightly regulated. Whereas rapid regulation of glucose transporters by hormones has been known for some time, the regulation of glucose transporters by substrate availability (i.e., by glucose itself) is less well understood. This question has been approached by scientists from two angles: one, by measuring the consequence of diabetic states (in which there is surplus of glucose availability) on the expression of glucose transporter genes, and another one, by measuring the effect of glucose availability and glucose deprivation in cell cultures on glucose transporter gene expression. The results from both camps are unfortunately not coincident, due in part to the coexistence of other variables in the diabetic animals, and to the lack of ideal cell cultures. In spite of these caveats, the profuse literature on both approaches propelled us to find commonalities within each approach. This review concludes that in animal studies, one isoform of glucose transporters, the GLUT4 type, is down‐regulated by high levels of circulating glucose in muscle but not in fat cells. This down‐regulation of the protein is independent of regulation of transcription. In contrast, in fat cells, high glucose levels depress GLUT4 mRNA levels. In cell culture studies, high glucose levels lead to lower expression of the GLUT1 transporter isoform relative to glucose‐deprived cultures. Glucose levels do not affect the amount of GLUT4 transporter isoform. The down‐regulation of the GLUT1 transporter protein is caused by pre‐ and post‐transcriptional mechanisms, the prevalence of each being cell‐type specific. No glucose‐responsive elements have been identified on either the GLUT1 or GLUT4 genes, and no information is available on the glucose metabolites that mediate the response of glucose transporter gene expression to glucose availability.— Klip, A., Tsakiridis, T., Marette, A., Ortiz, P. A. Regulation of expression of glucose transporters by glucose: a review of studies in vivo and in cell cultures. FASEB J. 8: 43‐53; 1994.

Insulin-induced translocation of glucose transporters in rat hindlimb muscles.

Insulin causes a translocation of glucose transporters from intracellular microsomes to the plasma membrane in adipocytes. To determine whether insulin has a similar effect in rat hindlimb muscles, we used glucose‐inhibitable cytochalasin B binding to estimate the number of glucose transporters in membrane fractions from insulinized and control muscles. Insulin treatment caused an approx. 2‐fold increase in cytochalasin B‐binding sites in a plasma membrane fraction and an approx. 70% decrease in cytochalasin B‐binding sites in an intracellular membrane fraction. In order to detect this effect of insulin, it was necessary to develop a procedure for isolating a plasma membrane fraction and an intracellular membrane fraction that were not contaminated with sarcoplasmic reticulum. Our results show that, as in adipocytes, insulin stimulates translocation of glucose transporters from an intracellular membrane pool to the plasma membrane in hindlimb skeletal muscles.

Different immune cells mediate mechanical pain hypersensitivity in male and female mice

A large and rapidly increasing body of evidence indicates that microglia-to-neuron signaling is essential for chronic pain hypersensitivity. Using multiple approaches, we found that microglia are not required for mechanical pain hypersensitivity in female mice; female mice achieved similar levels of pain hypersensitivity using adaptive immune cells, likely T lymphocytes. This sexual dimorphism suggests that male mice cannot be used as proxies for females in pain research.

Insulin action on glucose transporters through molecular switches, tracks and tethers

Glucose entry into muscle cells is precisely regulated by insulin, through recruitment of GLUT4 (glucose transporter-4) to the membrane of muscle and fat cells. Work done over more than two decades has contributed to mapping the insulin signalling and GLUT4 vesicle trafficking events underpinning this response. In spite of this intensive scientific research, there are outstanding questions that continue to challenge us today. The present review summarizes the knowledge in the field, with emphasis on the latest breakthroughs in insulin signalling at the level of AS160 (Akt substrate of 160 kDa), TBC1D1 (tre-2/USP6, BUB2, cdc16 domain family member 1) and their target Rab proteins; in vesicle trafficking at the level of vesicle mobilization, tethering, docking and fusion with the membrane; and in the participation of the cytoskeleton to achieve optimal temporal and spatial location of insulin-derived signals and GLUT4 vesicles.

Glucose transporter 4: cycling, compartments and controversies

Insulin promotes glucose uptake into muscle and adipose tissues through glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). In unstimulated cells, rapid endocytosis, slow exocytosis and dynamic or static retention cause GLUT4 to concentrate in early recycling endosomes, the trans‐Golgi network and vesicle‐associated protein 2‐containing vesicles. The coordinated action of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase effectors, protein kinase Akt, atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and Akt substrate of 160‐kDa (AS160), regulates the GLUT4 cycle by affecting its translocation, fusion with the plasma membrane, internalization and sorting. We review the evidence that supports such cycling, evaluate current models proposing static or dynamic retention, and highlight how distinct steps of GLUT4 transport are regulated by insulin signals. In particular, fusion seems to be regulated by aPKC (via munc18) and Akt (via syntaxin4‐interacting protein (synip)). AS160 participates in GLUT4 intracellular retention, and possibly fusion, through candidate ras‐related GTP‐binding protein (Rab)2, Rab8, Rab10 and/or Rab14. The localization of the insulin‐sensitive GLUT4 compartment and the precise target of insulin‐derived signals remain open for future investigation.

Muscle-Specific Pten Deletion Protects against Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

ABSTRACT Pten (phosphatase with tensin homology), a dual-specificity phosphatase, is a negative regulator of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway. Pten regulates a vast array of biological functions including growth, metabolism, and longevity. Although the PI3K/Akt pathway is a key determinant of the insulin-dependent increase in glucose uptake into muscle and adipose cells, the contribution of this pathway in muscle to whole-body glucose homeostasis is unclear. Here we show that muscle-specific deletion of Pten protected mice from insulin resistance and diabetes caused by high-fat feeding. Deletion of muscle Pten resulted in enhanced insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and Akt phosphorylation in soleus but, surprisingly, not in extensor digitorum longus muscle compared to littermate controls upon high-fat feeding, and these mice were spared from developing hyperinsulinemia and islet hyperplasia. Muscle Pten may be a potential target for treatment or prevention of insulin resistance and diabetes.

The Rab GTPase-Activating Protein AS160 Integrates Akt, Protein Kinase C, and AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Signals Regulating GLUT4 Traffic

Insulin-dependent phosphorylation of Akt target AS160 is required for GLUT4 translocation. Insulin and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (Akt activators) or activation of conventional/novel (c/n) protein kinase C (PKC) and 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) all promote a rise in membrane GLUT4 in skeletal muscle and cultured cells. However, the downstream effectors linking these pathways to GLUT4 traffic are unknown. Here we explore the hypothesis that AS160 is a molecular link among diverse signaling cascades converging on GLUT4 translocation. PDGF and insulin increased AS160 phosphorylation in CHO-IR cells. Stimuli that activate c/n PKC or AMPK also elevated AS160 phosphorylation. We therefore examined if these signaling pathways engage AS160 to regulate GLUT4 traffic in muscle cells. Nonphosphorylatable AS160 (4P-AS160) virtually abolished the net surface GLUT4myc gains elicited by insulin, PDGF, K+ depolarization, or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside but partly, yet significantly, inhibited the effects of 4-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. However, the hypertonicity or 2,4-dinitrophenol–dependent gains in surface GLUT4myc were unaffected by 4P-AS160. RK-AS160 (GTPase-activating protein [GAP] inactive) or 4PRK-AS160 (GAP inactive, nonphosphorylatable) had no effect on surface GLUT4myc elicited by all stimuli. Collectively, these results indicate that activation of Akt, c/n PKC, or α2-AMPK intersect at AS160 to regulate GLUT4 traffic, as well as highlight the potential of AS160 as a therapy target to increase muscle glucose uptake.

GLUT4 TRANSLOCATION BY INSULIN IN INTACT MUSCLE CELLS : DETECTION BY A FAST AND QUANTITATIVE ASSAY

We report a rapid and sensitive colorimetric approach to quantitate the amount of glucose transporters exposed at the surface of intact cells, using L6 muscle cells expressing GLUT4 containing an exofacial myc epitope. Unstimulated cells exposed to the surface 5 fmol GLUT4myc per mg protein. This value increased to 10 fmol/mg protein in response to insulin as 2‐deoxyglucose (10 μM) uptake doubled. The results are substantiated by immunofluorescent detection of GLUT4myc in unpermeabilized cells and by subcellular fractionation. We further show that wortmannin and the cytoskeleton disruptors cytochalasin D and latrunculin B completely blocked these insulin effects. The rapid quantitative assay described here could be of high value to study insulin signals and to screen for potential anti‐diabetic drugs.