Severe impairment in liver insulin signaling fails to alter hepatic insulin action in conscious mice.
Insulin exerts its potent effects on hepatic glucose fluxes via direct and indirect mechanisms. Whereas a liver-specific insulin receptor (IR) knockout (LIRKO) mouse exhibits glucose intolerance as well as insulin resistance, it is unclear whether a more acute decrease in the expression of hepatic IR would be sufficient to induce hepatic insulin resistance. Here we report that the downregulation of hepatic IR expression by up to 95% does not modify hepatic insulin action. The i.p. administration (2 injections over 1 week) of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASO) directed to reduce insulin expression downregulated hepatic IR expression in C57BL6J mice. A high dose of IR-ASO decreased IR protein approximately 95%, while a control-ASO failed to modify IR expression. At this dose, the IR-ASO also decreased IR expression in adipose tissue but did not significantly decrease IR expression in hypothalamus or skeletal muscle. Insulin action was assessed with insulin clamp studies in conscious mice. The rate of glucose infusion during the clamp studies was comparable in control-ASO- and IR-ASO-treated mice. Importantly, the depletion of liver IR protein markedly impaired downstream insulin signaling in the liver, but it failed to modify the rate of glucose production. Thus, near ablation of liver IR does not alter insulin action on glucose production.
Buettner
Christoph
C
Department of Medicine, Diabetes Research and Training Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York 10461, USA.
Patel
Rima
R
Muse
Evan D
ED
Bhanot
Sanjay
S
Monia
Brett P
BP
McKay
Rob
R
Obici
Silvana
S
Rossetti
Luciano
L
D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005947:Glucose; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D006003:Glycogen; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D005947:Glucose; D005990:Glycerol