Insulin Receptor mRNA Levels Research Articles

Effects of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on Insulin-Induced Responses in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Insulin stimulated proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in serum-free medium, whereas 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) did not affect cell growth. In cells cotreated with insulin plus TCDD or TCDF, insulin-induced cell proliferation and [3H]thymidine incorporation were inhibited. In contrast, α-naphthoflavone, a partial aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor antagonist, blocked the inhibitory effects of TCDD, suggesting that the Ah receptor was involved in TCDD-induced responses in MCF-7 cells. TCDD alone did not affectKdandBmaxvalues for binding of [125I]insulin to the insulin receptor (IR); however, in MCF-7 cells cotreated with insulin plus TCDD, the insulin-inducedKdvalue for IR–ligand binding was decreased and theBmaxvalue was increased. TCDD induced IR mRNA levels and inhibited several other insulin-induced responses includingc-fosprotooncogene expression, phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, and a 185-kDa protein in MCF-7 cells.

Abnormalities of Insulin Receptors in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Insulin resistance is present in some strains of rats with genetic hypertension. To determine whether this abnormality is present at the level of the insulin receptor, we compared insulin sensitivity, insulin receptor binding, and mRNA levels in tissues of 10-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. Because we have previously demonstrated an inverse relationship between dietary sodium intake and renal insulin receptor density and mRNA levels in normal Sprague-Dawley rats, the two rat strains in the current experiment were fed either low salt (0.07% NaCl) or high salt (7.5% NaCl) chow until the SHR became hypertensive. Fasting plasma glucose and plasma insulin levels did not differ between SHR and WKY and were not affected by salt intake. When the rats were maintained on the low salt diet, the rate of glucose infusion required to main euglycemia during a hyperinsulinemic clamp was significantly lower in SHR than WKY. High salt diet decreased the rate of glucose utilization during the hyperinsulinemic clamp in WKY but not SHR. During the low salt diet, insulin infusion decreased sodium excretion in both WKY and SHR. When the rats were maintained on the high salt diet, the antinatriuretic response to insulin was blunted in WKY but not SHR. Both the density and mRNA levels of insulin receptor were comparable in the kidney of WKY and SHR, but only WKY had the previously demonstrated decrease in receptor number and mRNA levels when fed the high salt chow. Hepatic insulin receptor mRNA levels were significantly lower in SHR than WKY fed the low salt diet. High salt diet decreased significantly insulin receptor mRNA levels in the liver of WKY but not of SHR. Thus, SHR appear to have lost the feedback mechanism that normally limits insulin-induced sodium retention when extracellular volume is expanded. A decreased expression of insulin receptor in the liver of SHR provides a possible explanation for the insulin resistance and decreased insulin clearance present in this strain.

Human diabetes associated with defects in nuclear regulatory proteins for the insulin receptor gene.

The control of gene transcription is mediated by sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins (trans-acting factors) that bind to upstream regulatory elements (cis elements). We have previously identified two DNA-binding proteins that specifically interact with two unique AT-rich sequences of the 5' regulatory region of the insulin receptor gene which have in vivo promoter activity. Herein we have investigated the expression of these DNA-binding proteins in cells from two unrelated patients with insulin resistance and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In these patients, the insulin receptor gene was normal. In EBV-transformed lymphoblasts from both patients, insulin receptor mRNA levels and insulin receptor expression were decreased. The expression of nuclear-binding proteins for the 5' regulatory region of the insulin receptor gene was markedly reduced, and this defect paralleled the decrease in insulin receptor protein expression. These studies indicate that DNA-binding proteins to the regulatory region of the insulin receptor gene are important for expression of the insulin receptor. Further, they suggest that in affected individuals, defects in the expression of these proteins may cause decreased insulin receptor expression and insulin resistance.

Evidence for a role of insulin in hepatocytic differentiation of human hepatoma BC1 cells

To examine the effect of insulin on hepatocytic differentiation, we took advantage of the properties of the newly established human hepatoma BC1 cell line to maintain quiescence after confluency and to progressively acquire in culture (3 weeks after confluency) an hepatocytic phenotype, as assessed by expression of specific hepatic genes (Le Jossicet al., 1995). In BC1 cells cultured in the presence of insulin (1 μM: ), expression of albumin and transferrin mRNA and protein occurs earlier than in cells cultured in its absence (1 weekvs 2 weeks). Moreover, at any time considered, the level of the two hepatic markers was higher (2- to 3-fold) in the former than in untreated cells. The beneficial effect of insulin on hepatocytic differentiation of BC1 cells was paralleled by: i) modest increases in insulin receptor (IR) mRNA level and IR binding activity, and ii) a 6-fold increase in sensitivity to insulin for stimulation of glycogenesis. These results provide the first evidence for insulin's ability to exert a positive effect on hepatocytic differentiation. The beneficial effect of insulin probably results both from increased IR expression and binding activity and from alteration at post-receptor levels.

Effects of Endurance Training of Gene Expression on Insulin Signal Transduction Pathway

Alternative splicing of insulin receptor mRNA and gene expression of insulin receptor, IRS-1 and MAP kinase isoforms were examined in skeletal muscle of trained and sedentary rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained for 9 weeks on a treadmill : 30 m/min at 6° incline, 90 min/day, 5 days/week. Endurance training increased insulin receptor mRNA level without change in alternative splicing of insulin receptor mRNA in skeletal muscle. The levels of IRS-1 and MAP kinase (ERKI) mRNA were significantly higher in trained rats than sedentary rats. Our findings provide the first evidence that gene expression of insulin receptor and postreceptor signal transduction pathway is enhanced by endurance training, without affecting alternative splicing of insulin receptor isoforms.

Expression of the Hepatic Insulin Receptor Gene in the Rat during Postnatal Development

Changes in the expression of the liver insulin receptor are known to occur in the rat during postnatal development. To assess whether such changes occur at the level of gene expression, steady-state levels of insulin receptor mRNA and transcription rates of the receptor gene have been measured in livers of rats from birth (1 day) to adulthood (60 days). Northern blot analysis of liver RNA revealed two major insulin receptor mRNA species of 9.5 and 7.5 kb. When normalized to beta actin mRNA, insulin receptor mRNA levels increased 4-fold between 1 and 15 days, remained stable between 15 and 30 days, and decreased 2-fold between 30 and 60 days. These changes were fully suppressed by in vivo treatment with actinomycin D, an inhibitor of gene transcription. In vitro nuclear transcription assays showed that the rate of transcription of the insulin receptor gene increased 2-fold between 1 and 30 days. Insulin receptor concentration in liver membrane fractions did not exactly parallel insulin receptor mRNA levels since it increased by 20-30% from 1 to 10 days and decreased 2-fold from 10 to 60 days. During the suckling-weaning transition, insulin receptor mRNA level decreased 2-fold in rats weaned onto a high carbohydrate diet but remained unchanged in rats weaned onto a high fat diet. Throughout postnatal life, an inverse relationship was observed between liver insulin receptor mRNA and plasma insulin levels. These results show that transcriptional changes in insulin receptor gene expression occur postnatally and suggest that such changes may be insulin-related.

Insulin resistance associated with decreased levels of insulin-receptor messenger ribonucleic acid: evidence of a de novo mutation in the maternal allele.

Mutations in the insulin receptor gene may lead to insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus in some patients. We have studied an insulin-resistant patient with leprechaunism. Insulin binding to the patient's fibroblasts was markedly decreased. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the patient's insulin receptor gene revealed heterozygosity for a 2-basepair deletion in exon 15. If the premessenger ribonucleic acid (pre-mRNA) is spliced normally, it causes a replacement of codon 970 in the beta-subunit with a premature chain termination codon, thereby deleting most of the intracellular domain of the receptor. The mRNA transcribed from the allele with a 2-base-pair deletion is likely to be unstable because mRNA transcripts from this allele could not be detected by complementary DNA sequencing. Northern blot analysis showed that the patient's insulin receptor mRNA was decreased by 90% compared with that of a control subject, thus suggesting that the patient is a compound heterozygote for two mutations that decrease levels of insulin receptor mRNA. This deletion mutation in exon 15 seems to be a de novo mutation, because it was not detected in either parent. Investigation of the inheritance of a silent sequence polymorphism in exon 17 provided that the deletion occurred in the maternal allele. Furthermore, linkage analysis suggests that the second mutation is derived from the patient's father, although we could not directly identify it by sequencing the coding region of the insulin receptor gene. Therefore, it is possible that this mutation is present in a regulatory domain of the insulin receptor gene, acting in cis-dominant fashion to reduce the levels of insulin receptor mRNA. Analyses of the hypervariable region in the myoglobin and pMCT118 loci were consistent with the assumption that the father and mother studied here are indeed the biological parents of the diseased patient. We hereby conclude that the patient is a compound heterozygote for two mutant alleles, both of which are responsible for the reduced levels of insulin receptor mRNA and insulin binding.

The Effect of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Insulin Binding, Insulin Receptor mRNA Levels, and Isotype RNA Pattern in U-937 Human Promonocytic Cells

We have studied the effect of 10-8M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] on insulin binding, insulin receptor gene expression, and isotype mRNA pattern in U-937 human promonocytic cells. Binding assays indicated that 1,25-(OH)2D3 increased total receptor number without altering receptor affinity, while the dissociation rate of the hormone bound to its receptor remained unchanged. RNA blot assays indicated that 1,25-(OH)2D3 increased the levels of the two major insulin receptor mRNAs (11 and 8.5 kb) present in these cells. Experiments with the RNA synthesis inhibitor actinomycin D suggested that 1,25-(OH)2D3 did not alter the stability of total insulin receptor mRNA. Experiments with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide indicated that the increase in the amounts of this mRNA occurs as a direct response to the action of the hormone. Finally, polymerase chain reaction assays revealed that the insulin receptor mRNA isotype lacking the exon 11 (A isotype) was the only one present in both untreated and 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated U-937 cells. This indicates that 1,25-(OH)2D3 does not alter the splicing of the primary insulin receptor transcript in this cell line.

Glucose-induced stimulation of human insulin-receptor mRNA and tyrosine kinase activity in cultured cells

The effects of high glucose on insulin-receptor tyrosine kinase activity and gene expression were investigated in 3T3-HIR cells. Cells incubated for 48 h in the presence of 25 mM glucose showed a 5-fold increase in the amount of insulin receptors per cell, receptor autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of the exogenous substrate poly(Glu/Tyr) compared with cells grown in the absence of glucose but in the presence of 25 mM fructose. These effects were associated with a 4-fold stimulation in steady-state levels of insulin-receptor mRNA. Significant cellular glucose utilization and lactate production were observed in the presence of high glucose in the culture medium, indicating a functional glycolytic pathway in glucose-treated cells, but not in cells treated with fructose. Such a differential response to hexoses favours the hypothesis of a carbohydrate regulation via a glycolytic intermediate. This was further supported by a similar glucose-induced increase in mRNA levels of the enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. To test the hypothesis that the stimulatory effect of glucose on amount of insulin receptors and phosphorylation state could result from post-transcriptional modifications, cells exposed to glucose were incubated with actinomycin D, a potent inhibitor of gene transcription. In cells challenged with high glucose plus inhibitor, insulin-receptor mRNA half-life was increased from 1 to 3 h, indicating that posttranscriptional mechanisms are involved in these processes of glucose regulation. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide induced an overexpression of insulin-receptor mRNA levels in the presence of glucose, suggesting that labile repressor protein(s) could be implicated in the effects of glucose. We conclude that (1) long-term culture with high glucose increases the amount of insulin receptors and their tyrosine kinase activity and (2) the glucose-induced increase in insulin-receptor mRNA levels can be accounted for, at least in part, by posttranscriptional events.

Reduced insulin receptor expression and function in human colonic Caco-2 cells by ras and polyoma middle T oncogenes

Taking advantage of the potent mitogenic effect exerted by insulin in human colonic cells, we used Caco-2 cells transfected with an activated (Val-12) human Haras gene or the polyoma middle T (PyMT) oncogene, a constitutive activator of pp60c-src tyrosine kinase activity, to investigate the effect of oncogenic p21ras and PyMT/pp60c-src on insulin mitogenic signaling. As compared to vector control Caco-2 cells, both oncogene-transfected cells exhibited: 1) a loss of response to insulin's stimulatory effect on mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity and cell proliferation, both of which were constitutively increased; 2) a decrease in insulin receptor (IR) affinity and insulin-stimulated exogenous tyrosine kinase activity, which resulted from increased protein kinase C (PKC) activity (Delage, S., Chastre, E., Empereur, S., Wicek, D., Veissiére, D., Capeau, J., Gespach, C., and Cherqui, G. (1993) Cancer Res. 53, 2762-2770), since IR alterations were corrected by PKC down-regulation; and 3) a decrease in both IR mRNA level and IR number, which was independent of PKC since it persisted after PKC down-regulation. In conclusion, this is the first evidence that oncogenic p21ras and PyMT/pp60c-src abolish insulin mitogenic signaling in human colonic cells through mechanisms involving (i) constitutive activation of MAP kinase and (ii) marked decreases in both IR function and expression which are mediated by PKC-dependent and PKC-independent pathways, respectively.

Effect of dietary sodium chloride on insulin receptor number and mRNA levels in rat kidney

Insulin has been postulated to play a role in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension via an antinatriuretic action. To further explain the sodium insulin interaction in the kidney, we studied effects of different salt intakes on insulin receptor binding and mRNA levels in tissues from rats maintained on 0.07%, 0.3%, or 7.5% NaCl for 14 days. Scatchard analysis of competition data from in situ autoradiography studies resulted in curvilinear profiles, indicating the presence of either two classes of receptors or a single class of receptors with a negative cooperative hormone-receptor interaction. When data were analyzed using the two-site model, binding capacity of the high-affinity receptor site was significantly less in high-salt-fed rats. No significant differences between dietary groups were observed in apparent dissociation constants of the two receptor sites or in maximal binding capacity of the low-affinity, high-capacity site. Analysis of insulin binding to glomeruli, cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla indicated that the high-salt diet was associated with decreased receptor density in all regions studied. Insulin receptor mRNA, as quantified by Northern and slot blot analysis, was inversely related to salt intake in absence of a change in plasma glucose, insulin, and corticosterone levels. Both 7.2- and 9.4-kb transcripts were similarly affected by dietary sodium content. Plasma renin concentration and renal renin mRNA levels were decreased but blood pressure was not affected by high-salt diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Molecular and functional characterization of insulin receptors present on hamster glucagonoma cells.

Studies using pancreas perfusion techniques point to a physiological inhibition of glucagon release by insulin which should be mediated by A cell-residing insulin receptors. In this study, we have characterized the insulin receptors expressed in a hamster glucagonoma A cell line (INR1G9 cells) which is an accepted tool for A cell studies. In receptor binding assays 125I-insulin was displaced with a Kd of 3 nmol/l. Binding was also dependent upon time, temperature and cell number. Insulin concentration-dependently inhibited glucagon secretion (1 mumol: 59%, 100 nmol/l: 71%, 10 nmol/l: 86% of controls). In transient transfection experiments insulin inhibited proglucagon gene transcription (controls: 100%, 100 nmol/l: 54%, 10 nmol/l: 57%, 1 nmol/l: 72%, 100 pmol/l: 96%). Treatment of INR1G9 cells with insulin for 20 h induced a strong downregulation of insulin receptors (controls: 100%, 100 nmol/l: 30%, 10 nmol/l: 70%, 1 nmol/l: 73%, 100 pmol/l: 75%) and of insulin receptor mRNA levels (controls: 100%, 100 nmol/l: 42%, 10 nmol/l: 82%, 1 nmol/l: 84%, 100 pmol/l: 90%). When INR1G9 cells were transiently transfected with a hybrid gene containing the promotor/enhancer region of the human insulin receptor promotor (1,462 bp) linked to the transcriptional reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and were treated with insulin it was demonstrated that insulin did not affect the insulin receptor gene transcription. In conclusion, INR1G9 cells express specific receptors for insulin. Insulin inhibits glucagon secretion and proglucagon gene expression via an inhibition of proglucagon gene transcription. Ligand-induced downregulation of the insulin receptor is not mediated by changes of insulin receptor gene transcription and is most likely regulated by posttranscriptional mechanisms, e.g. destabilization of insulin receptor mRNA.

The developmental pattern of rabbit brain insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptor expression

To examine the effect of development on rabbit brain insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor expression, we characterized and quantitated receptor mRNAs by Northern blot analysis and affinity-labeled ligand bound receptors by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. At various stages of development ranging from 23 to 30 day gestational (term ∼ 31 days), 1 to 10 day postnatal ages and the adult, no change in the whole brain insulin receptor mRNA (7.0, 6.0 and 5.5 kb) and affinity-labeled receptor protein (∼ 125 kDa) levels was observed. The IGF-I receptor mRNA (11.5, 6.5 and 4.5 kb) and affinity-labeled receptor (∼ 125kDa) protein levels declined during the neonatal stages of development. In the case of the IGF-II receptor, while the mRNA levels (9.0 and 4.5 kb) remained constant, the corresponding affinity-labeled receptor protein (∼ 230 kDa) declined with maturation. We conclude that a differential regulation of brain insulin, IGF-I and IGF-II receptor expression occurs during development.

Mitogen activation of resting lymphocytes exposes cryptic insulin receptors.

Mitogen activation of resting lymphocytes induces expression of high affinity insulin receptors on the plasma membrane. The mechanism underlying this effect on insulin receptor expression was examined by comparing levels of insulin receptor mRNA and protein in resting and mitogen-activated rodent lymphocytes. Analysis of RNA levels indicated that resting and concanavalin A-activated lymphocytes contained equivalent amounts of insulin receptor mRNA with predominant transcripts of 7.9 and 9.5 kilobases. Although little or no insulin binding was detectable on intact resting lymphocytes, detergent solubilization of these cells resulted in the appearance of readily detectable insulin binding activity that could be immunoprecipitated with anti-insulin receptor antibodies. Detergent-solubilized resting and mitogen-activated lymphocytes expressed equivalent amounts of insulin receptors that bound insulin with similar affinity (KD = 90 pM) and migrated on reduced SDS-polyacrylamide gels with apparent masses of approximately 130 and approximately 95 kDa. Insulin receptors from resting lymphocytes appeared to be associated with the plasma membrane since 125I labeling of intact lymphocytes radiolabeled the insulin receptor, insulin binding activity was detected in membrane fractions of hypotonically lysed cells, and trypsin treatment of intact cells destroyed > 90% of the insulin binding activity in detergent extracts. These results suggest that resting lymphocytes express insulin receptor mRNA and protein and that mitogen activation exposes cryptic insulin receptors present in the plasma membrane of resting lymphocytes.

Effects of STZ-induced diabetes and fasting on insulin receptor mRNA expression and insulin receptor gene transcription in rat liver.

Insulinopenic states in rodents are known to cause an increase in the number of hepatic insulin receptors. To determine if this change is related to an abnormality in insulin receptor gene expression, insulin receptor binding, insulin receptor mRNA levels, and insulin receptor gene transcription rates have been measured in livers from rats rendered hypoinsulinemic by STZ administration (65 mg/kg) or fasting. In the two groups of experimental rats, insulin binding to liver plasma membranes was increased (approximately 40 and 25%, respectively) relative to control, normoinsulinemic animals. Northern blot analysis of either total or poly (A)+ RNA from livers of hypo- and normoinsulinemic rats revealed two major insulin receptor mRNA species of 9.5 and 7.5 kbs. In hypoinsulinemic rats, insulin receptor mRNA levels were increased > or = 10-fold, with similar effects on the two mRNA species. The effects of STZ administration and fasting on insulin receptor binding and insulin receptor mRNA levels were fully reversed by insulin treatment or refeeding, respectively. Injection of ACT D, an inhibitor of gene transcription, decreased insulin receptor mRNA levels by > or = 80% in control and diabetic rats and suppressed the overexpression of mRNA seen in diabetic rats. In vitro nuclear transcription assays showed that the rate of transcription of the insulin receptor gene was increased 2-fold in STZ-induced diabetic rats and fasted rats relative to control animals. Taken together, these results suggest that the upregulation of the insulin receptor induced by chronic insulinopenia results, at least in part, from an increase in insulin receptor gene transcription.

Regulation of insulin receptor gene expression. Cell cycle-mediated effects on insulin receptor mRNA stability.

Posttranscriptional mechanisms play important roles in insulin receptor gene regulation; variability in cellular insulin receptor number and the growth arrest-mediated increases in insulin receptor mRNA are secondary to changes in insulin receptor mRNA stability. Therefore, further characterization of the pathways and kinetics of insulin receptor mRNA degradation were investigated. The insulin receptor mRNA in the insulin receptor-rich Hep G2 cells is more stable compared with the insulin receptor-sparse MCF-7 cells. Growth arrest results in a significant rise in insulin receptor mRNA in both cell lines. The increase in mRNA is caused by changes in mRNA stability. The half-life of the insulin receptor mRNA in growth-arrested cells is approximately three times that of proliferating cells. The insulin receptor gene contains four polyadenylation sites that produce four species of mRNA of 5.4, 6.9, 8.0, and 9.4 kilobases (kb). The mRNA species are not coordinately regulated. The ratio of the most abundant species (9.4/6.9) is significantly larger in growth-arrested cells compared with proliferating cells. By utilizing a specific cDNA probe for the 9.4-kb mRNA species, it was determined that the diminished 9.4/6.9 ratio in proliferating cells was caused by a more rapid rate of the 9.4-kb mRNA degradation. The kinetics of insulin receptor mRNA degradation were investigated. Insulin receptor mRNA levels were reduced to 56% of their base line within 6 h when growth-arrested cells were stimulated to proliferate; protein inhibition with cycloheximide completely inhibited the decline in insulin receptor mRNA.

Changes in insulin-receptor mRNA levels in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue of weanling rats during fasting and refeeding.

Tissue-specific alterations in insulin sensitivity occur in response to fasting and refeeding, as part of the integrated adaptive mechanisms employed to adjust to major changes in nutritional status. In the present study the effects of fasting and refeeding on insulin-receptor, actin and myosin mRNA levels in skeletal muscle, and insulin-receptor and uncoupling-protein mRNA in brown adipose tissue of rats have been examined. Insulin-receptor mRNA levels increased markedly in both skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue after a 40 h fast, the increase being greater in brown fat (8-fold) than in muscle (2-fold). On refeeding for 4 h, the insulin-receptor mRNA level in both tissues declined rapidly to control levels. An increase in insulin-receptor mRNA level was also observed in brown adipose tissue after a 16 h fast, although not in skeletal muscle. In contrast to the insulin-receptor mRNA, the level of the mRNA for the mitochondrial uncoupling protein declined markedly in brown adipose tissue during a 40 h fast. These results indicate that insulin-receptor mRNA levels are modulated in response to the alterations in nutritional status that occur during fasting and refeeding; this may reflect a nutritional influence on transcription of the receptor-protein gene.

Lilly Lecture: molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance. Lessons from patients with mutations in the insulin-receptor gene.

Insulin resistance contributes to the pathogenesis of NIDDM. We have investigated the molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance in patients with genetic syndromes caused by mutations in the insulin-receptor gene. In general, patients with two mutant alleles of the insulin-receptor gene are more severely insulin-resistant than are patients who are heterozygous for a single mutant allele. These mutations can be put into five classes, depending upon the mechanisms by which they impair receptor function. Some mutations lead to a decrease in the number of insulin receptors on the cell surface. For example, some mutations decrease the level of insulin receptor mRNA or impair receptor biosynthesis by introducing a premature chain termination codon (class 1). Class 2 mutations impair the transport of receptors through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane. Mutations that accelerate the rate of receptor degradation (class 5) also decrease the number of receptors on the cell surface. Other mutations cause insulin resistance by impairing receptor function--either by decreasing the affinity to bind insulin (class 3) or by impairing receptor tyrosine kinase activity (class 4). The prevalence of mutations in the insulin receptor gene is not known. However, theoretical calculations suggest that approximately 0.1-1% of the general population are heterozygous for a mutation in the insulin-receptor gene; the prevalence is likely to be higher among people with NIDDM. Accordingly, it is likely that mutations in the insulin-receptor gene may be a contributory cause of insulin resistance in a subpopulation with NIDDM.

Insulin receptor and glucose transporter mRNA expression in skeletal muscle of genetically obese Zucker rats

Insulin resistance and defective glucose transport are associated with muscle tissue in the genetically obese Zucker rat and are accompanied by changes in the number of insulin receptors and the availability of glucose transporters, The present study was carried out to assess whether. in male Zucker rats at 10 weeks of age. these defects were reflected by changes in the levels of mRNAs for the insulin receptor and for the insulin responsive glucose transporter (GLUT-4). Total RNA was extracted from plantaris and soleus muscles and the levels of insulin receptor and GLUT-4 mRNAs and 18 S rRNA were determined by Northern hybridization and quantified by image analysis of the autoradiographs. A 50% increase in the level of insulin receptor mRNA was detected in both the plantaris and the soleus muscle from the obese rats compared to the lean rats, No change in the level of GLUT-4 mRNA was detected in the plantaris muscle although increases were observed in the soleus muscle from the obese rats.

Tissue-specific regulation of insulin receptor mRNA levels in rats with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus

Tissue-specific regulation of insulin receptor mRNA levels in rats with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus