Reduction of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in L6 myotubes by the protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 is independent of p38MAPK activity

Abstract

Insulin increases glucose uptake through translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. We previously showed that insulin activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), and inhibitors of p38MAPKα and p38MAPKβ (e.g. SB203580) reduce insulin-stimulated glucose uptake without affecting GLUT4 translocation. This observation suggested that insulin may increase GLUT4 activity via p38α and/or p38β. Here we further explore the possible participation of p38MAPK through a combination of molecular strategies. SB203580 reduced insulin stimulation of glucose uptake in L6 myotubes overexpressing an SB203580-resistant p38α (DR-p38α), but barely affected phosphorylation of the p38 substrate MAPKAPK-2 (MK-2). Expression of dominant-negative p38α or p38β reduced p38MAPK phosphorylation by 70% but had no effect on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Gene silencing via isoform-specific siRNAs reduced expression of p38α or p38β by 60-70% without diminishing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. SB203580 reduced photoaffinity labeling of GLUT4 by Bio-LC-ATB-BMPA only in the insulin-stimulated state. Unless low levels of p38MAPK suffice to regulate glucose uptake, these results suggest that the inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose transport by SB203580 is likely not mediated by p38MAPK. Instead, changes experienced by insulin-stimulated GLUT4 make it susceptible to inhibition by SB203580. Copyright © 2005 by The Endocrine Society.