title: Enhanced insulin stimulation of sugar transport and DNA synthesis by glucocorticoids in cultured human skin fibroblasts.
abstract: Glucocorticoids will enhance the growth of cultured human skin fibroblasts in serum-containing medium. In serum-free cultures hydrocortisone (5 X 10(-6) M) will enhance insulin stimulation of sugar transport and DNA synthesis (as measured by thymidine incorporation into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material). The optimal concentration for the glucocorticoid effect on DNA synthesis was 5 X 10(-8) M for dexamethasone and 5 X 10(-7) M for hydrocortisone. In dexamethasone-treated cells, concentrations of insulin as low as 250 microU/ml (10 ng/ml) were effective in stimulating DNA synthesis. Further, hydrocortisone and dexamethasone (both at 5 X 10(-6) M) exhibited potentiating effects on insulin-stimulated sugar transport. These effects appeared to be mediated via inhibitory actions on the hexose transport system with the preservation of a functional insulin-receptor interaction resulting in insulin stimulation of deoxy-D-glucose transport at physiological insulin concentrations, 250 microU/ml (10 ng/ml). Hydrocortisone also enhanced specific [125I]insulin binding in these cells. The data indicate that the mechanism(s) of glucocorticoid enhancement of two actions of insulin may be different.
mesh_terms: D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D003837:Deoxy Sugars / Q000378:metabolism*; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003837:Deoxy Sugars; D007328:Insulin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D006854:Hydrocortisone