Inhibition of isoprenoid biosynthesis causes insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

FEBS Lett. 2001 Nov 2;507(3):357-61. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)03007-1.

Abstract

Lovastatin treatment caused down-regulation of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) and up-regulation of Glut1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These changes in protein expression were associated with a marked inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose transport. Lovastatin had no effect on cell cholesterol levels, but its effects were reversed by mevalonate, demonstrating that inhibition of isoprenoid biosynthesis causes insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These findings support the notion that whole body insulin resistance may arise as a result of perturbations in general biochemical pathways, rather than primary defects in insulin signalling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Adipocytes / drug effects
  • Adipocytes / metabolism*
  • Aminopeptidases / drug effects
  • Aminopeptidases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / pharmacology
  • Caveolin 2
  • Caveolins / drug effects
  • Caveolins / genetics
  • Caveolins / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Cystinyl Aminopeptidase
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Lovastatin / pharmacology*
  • Mevalonic Acid / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / drug effects
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle Proteins*

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Caveolin 2
  • Caveolins
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Slc2a1 protein, mouse
  • Slc2a4 protein, mouse
  • Cholesterol
  • Lovastatin
  • Aminopeptidases
  • Cystinyl Aminopeptidase
  • leucyl-cystinyl aminopeptidase
  • Mevalonic Acid