The insulin receptor (IR) shares structural and functional homology with the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR). Hybrid receptors composed of an IR αβ-heterodimer and an IGF-IR αβ-heterodimer are formed in tissues expressing both molecules. Hybrids behave as IGF-IR rather than IR with respect to ligand binding affinity, receptor autophosphorylation, and hormone internalization and degradation. Factors regulating hybrid formation in vivo are unknown. We recently reported that in skeletal muscle of NIDDM patients, expression of hybrids is increased and correlated with a decrease in IR number and an increase in fasting insulin levels. However, it is not clear whether increased expression of hybrid receptors is a primary defect specifically associated with NIDDM or a secondary event caused by hyperinsulinemia. To address this issue, we used a quantitative microwell-based immunoassay to measure hybrid receptor abundance in skeletal muscle of 11 normal subjects and 12 patients with insulinoma, a state of primary nongenetically determined hyperinsulinemia. Total insulin binding was lower in insulinoma patients than in normal subjects (0.70 ± 0.18 vs. 4.59 ± 0.77; P < 0.0001). Total IGF-I binding did not differ between the two groups (0.81 ± 0.27 and 0.85 ± 0.10, respectively). The amount of hybrids, expressed as bound/total (B/T), was higher in patients with insulinoma than in normal subjects (0.57 ± 0.19 vs. 0.36 ± 0.03; P < 0.0006) and was inversely correlated with total insulin binding (r = −0.64, P < 0.0004). Increased abundance of hybrid receptors was positively correlated with insulin levels (r = −0.82, P < 0.0009) and inversely correlated with insulin-mediated glucose uptake (r = −0.80, P < 0.01). No correlations were observed between insulin-mediated glucose uptake and maximal specific insulin binding (r = 0.19, P = 0.64). These results indicate that insulin-induced IR downregulation may lead to the formation of a higher proportion of hybrid receptors, whose abundance is negatively correlated with in vivo insulin sensitivity. These results, therefore, support a role for insulin in the regulation of hybrid receptors formation and suggest that increased expression of hybrids in NIDDM may be a secondary event caused by hyperinsulinemia rather than a primary defect.
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January 01 1998
Expression of Insulin/IGF-I Hybrid Receptors Is Increased in Skeletal Muscle of Patients With Chronic Primary Hyperinsulinemia
Massimo Federici;
Massimo Federici
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Davide Lauro;
Davide Lauro
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Monica D'Adamo;
Monica D'Adamo
Department of Internal Medicine, and the Division of Endocrinology, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Barbara Giovannone;
Barbara Giovannone
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Ottavia Porzio;
Ottavia Porzio
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Monica Mellozzi;
Monica Mellozzi
Department of Internal Medicine, and the Division of Endocrinology, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Guido Tamburrano;
Guido Tamburrano
Department of Internal Medicine, and the Division of Endocrinology, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Paolo Sbraccia;
Paolo Sbraccia
Department of Internal Medicine, and the Division of Endocrinology, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Giorgio Sesti
Giorgio Sesti
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome
Rome, Italy
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Address correspondence to Dr. Giorgio Sesti, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Universita di Roma “Tor Vergata,” Via Orazio Raimondo, 00173 Rome, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]
Diabetes 1998;47(1):87–92
Article history
Received:
May 09 1997
Revision Received:
September 19 1997
Accepted:
September 19 1997
PubMed:
9421379
Citation
Massimo Federici, Davide Lauro, Monica D'Adamo, Barbara Giovannone, Ottavia Porzio, Monica Mellozzi, Guido Tamburrano, Paolo Sbraccia, Giorgio Sesti; Expression of Insulin/IGF-I Hybrid Receptors Is Increased in Skeletal Muscle of Patients With Chronic Primary Hyperinsulinemia. Diabetes 1 January 1998; 47 (1): 87–92. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.47.1.87
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