C-reactive protein does not impair insulin suppression of glucose release in primary hepatocytes.

Recent studies have suggested that CRP may interfere with insulin signaling in skeletal muscle and endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether highly purified CRP increased the rate of glucose appearance in primary hepatocytes in the absence or presence of insulin. Primary rat hepatocytes were provided glucose-free media containing 10 mM lactate, 1 mM pyruvate, 0, 1 or 10 nM insulin, and 0 or 10 μg/ml of purified CRP for 6h. Purified CRP did not increase glucose release in the absence of insulin and did not reduce the ability of insulin to suppress glucose release.