Insulin receptor down-regulation, prevention at a post-receptor site.

Nicotinamide (50mM) prevented insulin-mediated down-regulation of insulin receptors in IM-9 lymphoblastoid cells. Half-maximum effectiveness was between 10 and 33mM. Nicotinamide did not influence insulin binding to the cells, cell viability, insulin degradation or protein synthesis. A variety of inhibitors of ADP-ribosylation reactions besides nicotinamide, most of them pyridine analogues, similarly prevented insulin-induced receptor loss. Spermine decreased the number of insulin receptors in IM-9 cells, but this effect was not inhibited by nicotinamide.