Insulin suppresses hepatic mitochondrial production and function through
cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE). Primary hepatocytes
were pretreated with IBMX for 30 min, and then incubated with insulin for 24 h
for measuring mRNAs or for 24 h for quantifying mDNA, proteins, and ATP
content. A, levels of mtDNA were evaluated as described under
“Materials and Methods.” B, intracellular ATP was
quantified as described under “Materials and Methods.” C,
ATP synthase protein was detected by immunoblotting. D, transcripts
of mitochondrion-related genes were measured by TaqMan real-time PCR. Results
of A, B, and D represent mean ± S.E. of three
independent experiments. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01;
***, p < 0.001 versus vehicle treatment. #, p
< 0.05; ##, p < 0.01; ###, p < 0.001
versus insulin alone. E, IBMX did not affect insulin
signaling. Hepatoma cells (1c1c7) were pre-treated with 0.25 mm
IBMX for 30 min followed by incubation with insulin for 5 min. Akt
phosphorylation at Ser473 was measured by immunoblotting and
normalized to levels of total Akt. Results shown represent two independent
experiments. F and G, quantification of intracellular cAMP
and cGMP. Hepatoma cells (1c1c7) were pre-treated with IBMX for 30 min and
then incubated with insulin for 24 h in the presence or absence of IBMX.
Intracellular levels of cAMP and cGMP were measured by enzyme immunoassays as
described under “Materials and Methods.” Results represent mean
± S.D. of two independent experiments, each in 4–6 replicates. *,
#, p < 0.05 versus vehicle or insulin alone,
respectively. H, insulin neutralizes cAMP activation of CREB via PDE.
Hepa1c1c7 cells were pre-treated with IBMX (0.1 and 0.25 mm) for 30
min followed by exposure to 10 nm cAMP in the presence and absence
of 1 nm insulin for 30 min. CREB phosphorylation at
Ser133 and Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 were determined
by immunoblotting, and normalized to levels of total Akt. Results shown are a
set of typical immunoblots of two independent experiments. *, p <
0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001.