4-Hydroxyisoleucine ameliorates an insulin resistant-like state in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by regulating TACE/ TIMP3 expression

Abstract

Background

Obesity-associated insulin resistance (IR) is highly correlated with soluble tumor necrosis factor-α (sTNF-α), which is released from transmembranous TNF-α by TNF-α converting enzyme ( TACE). In vivo, TACE activity is suppressed by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 ( TIMP3). Agents that can interact with TACE/ TIMP3 to improve obesity-related IR would be highly valuable. In the current study, we assessed whether (2 S,3 R,4 S)-4-hydroxyisoleucine (4-HIL) could modulate TACE/ TIMP3 and ameliorate an obesity-induced IR-like state in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Materials and methods

3T3-L1 adipocytes were incubated in the presence of 25 mM glucose and 0.6 nM insulin to induce an IR-like state, and were then treated with different concentrations of 4-HIL or 10 µM pioglitazone (positive control). The glucose uptake rate was determined using the 2-deoxy-[ ³H]- d-glucose method, and the levels of sTNF-α in the cell supernatant were determined using ELISA. The protein expression of TACE, TIMP3, and insulin signaling-related molecules was measured using western blotting.

Results

Exposure to high glucose and insulin for 18 hours increased the levels of sTNF-α in the cell supernatant. The phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) Ser ³⁰⁷ and Akt Ser ⁴⁷³ was increased, whereas the protein expression of IRS-1, Akt, and glucose transporter-4 was decreased. The insulin-induced glucose uptake was reduced by 67% in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which indicated the presence of an IR-like state. The above indexes, which demonstrated the successful induction of an IR-like state, were reversed by 4-HIL in a dose-dependent manner by downregulating and upregulating the protein expression of TACE and TIMP3 proteins, respectively.

Conclusion

4-HIL improved an obesity-associated IR-like state in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by targeting TACE/ TIMP3 and the insulin signaling pathway.