c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 activation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces insulin resistance in human visceral but not subcutaneous adipocytes: reversal by liver X receptor agonists.

AIMS: Obesity is associated with a chronic systemic low-grade inflammatory state. Markers of inflammation such as TNF-alpha are linked with increased risk for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The objective of the present study was to dissect the molecular mechanisms that may regulate TNF-alpha-induced insulin resistance in human adipose tissue.

METHODS: We analyzed the impact of TNF-alpha on glucose uptake and insulin action in human visceral and sc adipocytes. The contribution of different intracellular signaling pathways on metabolic effects of TNF-alpha and the reversal of some of these effects with nuclear receptor agonists were also studied.

RESULTS: TNF-alpha per se increased glucose transporter-4 translocation to the plasma membrane and glucose uptake by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase/AS160 pathway in both visceral and sc adipocytes. Nevertheless, this cytokine induced an insulin-resistant state in visceral adipocytes by impairing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and insulin signaling at the insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1/AKT level. Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1/2 seems to be involved in TNF-alpha-induced insulin resistance, causing phosphorylation of IRS1 at the Ser312 residue. Accordingly, silencing JNK1/2 with either small interfering RNA or chemical inhibitors impaired serine phosphorylation of IRS1, restored downstream insulin signaling, and normalized insulin-induced glucose uptake in the presence of TNF-alpha. Furthermore, TNF-alpha increased the secretion of other proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. Pharmacological treatment of adipocytes with liver X receptor agonists reestablished insulin sensitivity by impairing TNF-alpha induction of JNK1/2, phosphorylation of IRS1 (Ser312), and stabilizing IL-6 secretion.

CONCLUSIONS: TNF-alpha induces insulin resistance on glucose uptake in human visceral but not sc adipocytes, suggesting depot-specific effects of TNF-alpha on glucose uptake. Activation of JNK1/2 appears to be involved in serine phosphorylation of IRS1 and subsequently insulin resistance on glucose uptake, a state that can be reversed by liver X receptor agonists.