Endotoxin-induced alterations in insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of insulin receptor, IRS-1, and MAP kinase in skeletal muscle.

Sepsis and endotoxin (LPS) have been demonstrated to impair insulin-mediated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. However, the intracellular mechanism responsible for this defect is not fully defined. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether specific elements of the insulin receptor (IR) signaling pathway in skeletal muscle are altered by LPS. In vivo injection of Escherichia coli LPS resulted in a 44% reduction in whole body glucose disposal under euglycemic hyperinsulinemic conditions, which was largely accounted for by a decreased rate of glycogen synthesis. Scatchard analysis indicated that the number and affinity of the high-affinity insulin binding sites in muscle were similar between control and LPS-treated rats. Western blot analysis indicated that under basal conditions, the levels of total and phosphorylated IR, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase were not significantly different between control and endotoxic rats. In control animals, muscle obtained 2 min after intravenous injection of a maximally stimulating dose of insulin demonstrated a marked increase in the amount of phosphorylated IR (approximately 5-fold), IRS-1 (approximately 10-fold), and MAP kinase (approximately 10-fold). Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of IR, IRS-1, and MAP kinase was markedly diminished (approximately 75%, 90%, and 78%, respectively) in LPS-treated rats. However, there was no concomitant reduction in the total abundance of these proteins under hyperinsulinemic conditions. These data demonstrate that LPS alters multiple steps in the insulin signal transduction pathway, but not insulin binding, in skeletal muscle that may mediate the observed impairment in glucose uptake.