Selective induction of alpha 1 isoform of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I in cultured rat astrocytes.

Treatment of cultured rat astrocytes with insulin increased (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity expressed per protein or DNA by 1.6- to 2.1-fold, but did not affect Mg(2+)-ATPase and adenylate cyclase activities. Insulin treatment increased protein and DNA contents under the conditions, while it did not cause morphological differentiation as determined by a microscopic inspection. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) had a similar effect on the enzyme activity in astrocytes: the effect of insulin was observed at supraphysiological concentrations, while that of IGF-I was observed at physiological concentrations. Insulin and IGF-I both stimulated DNA synthesis at the concentrations that caused an increase in enzyme activity. The effect was blocked by tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as genistein and herbimycin A and by cycloheximide. Western blot analysis showed that alpha 1 and alpha 2 isoforms of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were present in cultured astrocytes and that insulin and IGF-I increased the content of the alpha 1 isoform but did not that of the alpha 2 isoform. Two components of ouabain inhibition were observed in the enzyme purified partially from cultured astrocytes, and treatment of the cells with IGF-I increased the ratio of the low-affinity component of the inhibition, indicating a selective increase in the activity of the alpha 1 isoform. These results indicate that insulin increases (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity through an activation of IGF-I receptors and the increase is due to the selective induction of the alpha 1 isoform in cultured astrocytes.