Insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity is reduced in monocytes from non-obese normoglycaemic insulin-resistant subjects.

Insulin sensitivity has been quantified by i.v. insulin tolerance test (0.1 U/kg of body weight) in 18 (11 male/7 female) non-obese (body mass index range 19-25 kg/m2) normoglycaemic subjects. We then compared the tyrosine kinase activity and internalization of insulin receptor in monocytes from the six most insulin-sensitive (group 1) and the six most insulin-resistant (group 3) subjects. Tyrosine kinase activity was measured on immunopurified receptors using 32P-ATP and poly-glutamic acid 4: tyrosine 1, sodium salt (poly-glu-tyr 4:1). Insulin internalization was studied by incubating cells with 1 nmol/l 125I-insulin and measuring total cell-bound and intracellular 125I-insulin by an acid dissociation procedure. Basal (in the absence of insulin) receptor kinase activity was similar in both groups. Maximal (in the presence of 100 nmol/l insulin) kinase activity was 41% lower in group 3 (13.8 +/- 3.6 fmoles 32P-ATP incorporated vs 23.3 +/- 4.0, p = 0.1). Delta increment of receptor kinase activity after insulin stimulation (calculated by subtracting basal from maximal activity) was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in group 3 (21.3 +/- 3.8 vs 11.1 +/- 2.1) and significantly (p < 0.05) correlated to the in vivo insulin sensitivity. Both total cell-bound (0.70 +/- 0.09% of total radioactivity added vs 0.83 +/- 0.15) and intracellular (0.39 +/- 0.05 vs 0.44 +/- 0.09) 125I-insulin were similar in the two groups. These data suggest that in non-obese, normoglycaemic subjects a defective insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity may contribute to the development of insulin resistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)