title: Alpha-lipoic acid decreases thiol reactivity of the insulin receptor and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
abstract: Alpha-lipoic acid is known to increase insulin sensitivity in vivo and to stimulate glucose uptake into adipose and muscle cells in vitro. In this study, alpha-lipoic acid was demonstrated to stimulate the autophosphorylation of insulin receptor and glucose uptake into 3T3-L1 adipocytes by reducing the thiol reactivity of intracellular proteins. To elucidate mechanism of this effect, role of protein thiol groups and H(2)O(2) in insulin receptor autophosphorylation and glucose uptake was investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes following stimulation with alpha-lipoic acid. Alpha-lipoic acid or insulin treatment of adipocytes increased intracellular level of oxidants, decreased thiol reactivity of the insulin receptor beta-subunit, increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, and enhanced glucose uptake. Alpha-lipoic acid or insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was inhibited (i) by alkylation of intracellular, but not extracellular, thiol groups downstream of insulin receptor activation, and (ii) by diphenylene iodonium at the level of the insulin receptor autophosphorylation. alpha-Lipoic acid also inhibited protein tyrosine phosphatase activity and decreased thiol reactivity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. These findings indicate that oxidants produced by alpha-lipoic acid or insulin are involved in activation of insulin receptor and in inactivation of protein tyrosine phosphatases, which eventually result in elevated glucose uptake into 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-171, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Joo
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moini
authors.forename: Hee-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shon
authors.forename: An-Sik
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Packer
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007328:Insulin; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; C516609:Ptpn1 protein, mouse; D005947:Glucose