Insulin receptors in the kidneys in health and disease

Abstract

Insulin is an important hormone that affects various metabolic processes, including kidney function. Impairment in insulin’s action leads to insulin resistance in the target tissue. Besides defects in post-receptor insulin signaling, impairment at the receptor level could significantly affect insulin sensitivity of the target tissue. The kidney is a known target of insulin; however, whether the kidney develops “insulin resistance” is debatable. Regulation of the insulin receptor (IR) expression and its function is very well studied in major metabolic tissues like liver, skeletal muscles, and adipose tissue. The physiological relevance of IRs in the kidney has recently begun to be clarified. The credit goes to studies that showed a wide distribution of IR throughout the nephron segments and their reduced expression in the insulin resistance state. Moreover, altered renal and systemic metabolism observed in mice with targeted deletion of the IR from various epithelial cells of the kidney has strengthened this proposition. In this review, we recapitulate the crucial findings from literature that have expanded our knowledge regarding the significance of the renal IR in normal- and insulin-resistance states.

Core tip: Dysregulation of the renal insulin receptor (IR) not only affects local renal metabolism, but also disturbs the systemic glucose homeostasis and blood pressure, leading to metabolic abnormalities. The objective of this review is to highlight the pathophysiological stature of renal IRs in the kidney function, as well as, overall metabolism.

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of insulin resistance is increasing worldwide in parallel with the rate of obesity. Insulin resistance, per se, is often subclinical, and defined by inefficient insulin receptor (IR) signaling in major metabolic tissues, including liver, muscle, and adipose, resulting in impaired cellular glucose uptake. The function and role of reduced IR signaling has been extensively studied in these metabolic tissues. In addition to downstream signaling, alterations in the expression, binding, and phosphorylation of the IR itself may affect target cell sensitivity to insulin[1-3]. The kidney expresses IRs[4,5]; however, it is still debatable whether kidney develops classic “resistance” in the same manner as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissues. Reduced expression of IR and its phosphorylated form, the first step in IR signaling, have been demonstrated in renal epithelial cells of diabetic and insulin-resistant rat models[6,7]. Nevertheless, presence of these receptors throughout the nephron segments suggests an important role in renal metabolism. Insulin could undoubtedly regulate several vital kidney functions through its receptors. However, it has been a mere decade since the role of renal epithelial IR in kidney physiology and pathology began to be illuminated. In this review, we bring together the findings from published literatures that have contributed to our understanding in the area. For easy reading we will use the phrase “renal IR” in place of “IR in renal epithelial cells”.

INSULIN RECEPTORS AND INSULIN SIGNALING

Insulin, secreted by pancreatic β-cells, is a peptide hormone with pleiotropic actions and plays an indispensable role in human metabolism. Biological effects of insulin are exerted by binding to IRs. IRs belong to the receptor tyrosine kinases and the IR subfamily, which consists of the IR, the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I/-II) receptors, and the IR-related receptor[8]. The IR is a transmembrane protein that is composed of two α- and two β-subunits forming a heterotetramer α2β2 (Figure 1), with disulfide bonds between the α-subunits and between the α- and β-subunits[9]. The human IR cDNA was isolated and cloned in the 1980s[10,11]. These studies demonstrated that the α- and β-subunits are derived from proteolytic cleavage of a common precursor. Later, Seino et al[12] reported that the IR gene (INSR) is encoded by 22 exons and 21 introns. Alternative splicing of exon 11 results in two isoforms, A and B with differential insulin affinity, with isoform B having higher affinity.

Figure 1.

Architecture of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors. Insulin and IGF-1 receptors consist of two extracellular α-chains and two transmembrane β-chains. The α-subunits have binding sites for insulin and IGF-1, whereas the cytoplasmic kinase domain comprises major sites for tyrosine autophosphorylation that are crucial for receptor activation. The α- and β-subunits are connected together via disulfide linkages (Figure is adapted from reference[9]). IGF: Insulin-like growth factor.

Insulin binding to extracellular α-subunits confers conformational changes within the molecule, leading to autophosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues in intracellular domains[13]. Upon activation, various adaptors and signaling proteins (IRS, SHC, GRB, etc.) are recruited to the receptor to initiate the intracellular signaling cascade and regulate different biological functions[8,13] (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Schematics of the insulin receptor signaling. Binding of insulin to its receptor causes autophosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues. Upon activation IR recruits different adaptor proteins and initiates a cascade of phosphorylation events. These signaling events ultimately lead to activation or repression of an array of proteins, which regulate various biological functions (Figure is adapted from reference[8]).

LOCALIZATION OF THE IR IN THE KIDNEY

The attempts to examine the expression pattern of IRs in the kidney had started about four decades ago; however, their physiological role in the kidney has recently come to light[4,14-16]. Renal localization of IRs was first studied by ¹²⁵I-labeled insulin binding in microdissected rat glomeruli and tubules in 1988. The results showed high affinity binding sites in the proximal and distal convoluted tubules (PCT and DCT), and to a lesser extent in the cortical and outer medullary collecting duct (CD) and thick ascending limb (TAL)[15]. Later, Sechi et al[4] exploited an in situ autoradiographic technique to observe insulin binding in glomeruli, renal cortex, outer and inner renal medulla. Findings from their studies revealed the highest IR density in the inner portion of the medulla, which also exhibits the maximal insulin activity in the renal tubule. The localization of IR in the proximal tubule (PT), TAL, DCT, and CD have also been shown by immunofluorescence using polyclonal antibodies against the α- and β-subunits of IR[16]. This approach illustrated an exclusive localization pattern of IR as these antibodies did not overlap with IGF-1 receptor and the IR-related receptor in kidney[17,18]. The significance of IR expression in different segments of the nephron was later confirmed by targeted deletion of IR from these segments[19,20].

RENAL IR IN CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY

Renal regulation of sodium reabsorption is crucial for maintaining homeostasis, fluid balance, and systemic blood pressure. Excessive intake of dietary sodium and/or impaired salt excretion augments the incidences of hypertension[21]. There is substantial evidence suggesting restriction of dietary sodium could decrease cardiovascular risk and reduce blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive individuals[22,23]. In kidney, sodium reabsorption occurs throughout the tubular segments of nephron including the PT, TAL, DT, and CD[24-26].

Insulin is reported to have antinatriuretic properties and has been shown to increase sodium absorption by regulating the activities of different renal sodium channels including the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger type 3, the sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter, and the Na-K-ATPase in PT, the sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter type 2 and the Na-K-ATPase in TAL, and the sodium-chloride cotransporter and the epithelial sodium channel in DCT and CD[27].

To elucidate the sodium-insulin interaction in the kidney, Sechi et al[28], examined renal IR binding and mRNA levels of IRs in rats fed on different salt concentration. They reported an inverse relationship between dietary salt (NaCl) intake and renal IR density. In concordance with this study, Catena et al[29] also reported a decrement in IR number and mRNA levels in control rats fed on a high-salt diet. However, IR densities were reported comparable in fructose-fed rats maintained on high- or low-salt diet. Further, a reduced antinatriuretic effect of insulin in high-salt-fed control rats was not observed in fructose-fed rats, implying that the fructose-fed animals lacked the feedback mechanism that limits insulin-induced sodium retention during high salt intake, which may contribute to fructose-induced hypertension[29].

Nevertheless, the expression pattern of IR in the PT, TAL, and CD implies the involvement of IRs in insulin-mediated renal sodium retention[15,30-32]. Therefore, investigating the correlation between IRs and renal sodium reabsorption has been a major focus of researchers to understand the connection between insulin resistance and hypertension. Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular complications worldwide. High blood pressure and associated complications lay a grave burden on patients. Among various determinants of hypertension, insulin resistance is considered to be a major determinant. Although the precise role of insulin resistance is debatable in the development of hypertension, activation of the sympathetic nervous system, insulin-regulated sodium retention, and activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) are considered as plausible mechanisms[33-35]. The interrelation between insulin resistance and hypertension could either be a non-causal association (two independent processes) or a cause-and-effect relationship, where insulin resistance acts as a cause of hypertension[36].

Interestingly, we observed that specific knockout of renal epithelial cell IR caused elevated systolic blood pressure in mice. Our study has shown that targeted deletion of IRs from renal epithelial cells significantly increased systolic blood pressure and impaired sodium excretion in response to saline load as compared to wild-type (WT). Moreover, intraperitoneal administration of insulin caused a significant drop in blood pressure in WT, but not in IR-knockout (KO) mice. Urinary excretion of nitrates and nitrites (UNOx) was also reduced in KO mice relative to WT mice (Figure 3). These observations suggested that renal IRs could play a key part in the maintenance of normal blood pressure and volume-expansion-associated natriuresis[19]. A study from Bhalla’s lab also has shown that renal tubule-specific knockout of IR decreased NCC-mediated sodium reabsorption in high fat-fed mice[37]. However, further investigation is required to comprehensively understand the IR-dependent regulation of sodium retention and associated hypertension during insulin resistance.

Figure 3.

Altered natriuresis and impaired nitric oxide metabolism in insulin receptor-knockout mice. A: Urinary sodium excretion after oral administration of saline with and without dextrose in 4 h; B: Mean arterial blood pressure (ΔMAP) after NaCl and dextrose administration in mice; C: Urinary nitrate and nitrite excretion in wild-type and insulin receptor-knockout mice after 24 h. (Figure is a modification of figures published in reference[19] and taken with permission).

Insulin has a complex role in the maintenance of blood pressure. On one hand, insulin-induced sodium retention and increased sympathetic activity is a root cause of hypertension, at the same time, insulin itself has a vasodilatory effect, which is associated with nitric oxide (NO) production[38]. In kidney, hyperinsulinemia affects renal blood flow in a NO-dependent manner[39] and insulin resistance impedes this effect[40,41]. Moreover, experimental diabetes in rats has resulted in reduced renal NO production[42]. Local renal production of NO production has also been implicated in impaired renal blood flow during congestive heart failure[43]. Apart from its vasodilatory effects, NO is also reported to reduce sodium reabsorption in renal tubules[44,45]. Specific deletion of IR from renal epithelial cells has been reported to impair sodium and NO excretion and elevate systemic blood pressure in mice, suggesting a possible role of impaired renal NO production in blood pressure regulation[19]. Moreover, reduced renal expression of the IR in TAL has been linked to salt sensitivity of blood pressure via blunted production of NO[46]. These IR-knockout mice also exhibited low protein levels of nitric oxide synthase isoform, NOS1, which is expressed in macula densa cells, TAL, and in CD[46]. Together, these studies support a crucial role of renal NO in blood pressure regulation by its autocrine and paracrine actions, particularly in the medullary TAL and CD[47-49].

A fairly recent report from our group showed for the first time that insulin induces eNOS activation and NO generation in the renal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells[50]. We observed a time- and dose-dependent increase in NO and its metabolite NOx in insulin-stimulated mouse IMCD cells. Moreover, chronic insulin infusion in C57BL/6J mice led to increased expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and elevated NO levels in the inner medulla. However, treatment of cells with wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor) and IR-knockdown abolished these effects of insulin in vitro, implying the involvement of the IR/PI3K pathway in insulin-stimulated NO generation. Further, targeted deletion of IR from renal tubule epithelial cells resulted in significant downregulation of eNOS in inner medulla with concomitant rise in blood pressure in KO mice. These observations implied that IR signaling in the IMCD could contribute to hypertension in the insulin-resistant state.

The renal RAS is another imperative pathway that regulates systemic blood pressure and maintains water and electrolyte homeostasis. Typically, angiotensin II (Ang II) produced in the RAS pathway interacts with angiotensin type 1 receptors (AT₁R) to exert its biological effects in various tissues including the kidney, the heart, adipocytes, adrenal tissues[51], etc. The classical RAS pathway induces sodium reabsorption, vasoconstriction, and blood pressure. Moreover, Ang II has been established to inhibit insulin-mediated PI3K activation and is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance[52]. An interrelation between insulin resistance and the RAS pathway has been reported in hypertensive patients. Although precise mechanism of insulin resistance and RAS is not well established, these two pathways interact at multiple levels to regulate cellular metabolism[53]. Previously, it has been demonstrated that Ang II induces phosphorylation of IRS1 (a key substrate of IR) at Ser616 and Ser312, which is responsible for its inactivation and inhibition of insulin/PI3K signaling cascade[54]. A direct link between renal IRs, RAS, and cardiovascular complications has not been reported and warrants further investigation.

RENAL IR IN SYSTEMIC GLUCOSE HOMEOSTASIS

IR signaling has been reported to maintain blood glucose levels in the liver and other metabolic tissues[55-57], however, there is limited knowledge regarding this action in the kidney. Recent studies have highlighted that renal IR signaling is an equally important contributor and regulator of systemic glucose levels[19,58-60]. The first evidence on kidney’s involvement in glucose metabolism came in 1938, where Bergman et al observed that removal of kidneys in hepatectomized rabbits doubled the sugar utilization rate as compared to the hepatectomized animals only[61]. Following which a number of studies substantiated the glucose production activity of the kidney[62,63] and provided evidence that kidney, in addition to acidosis or prolonged starvation, also releases considerable amounts of glucose in normal post-absorptive conditions[64]. Moreover, accumulating evidence predicts that the kidneys impart a critical role in regulating overall glucose homeostasis by various mechanisms, such as reabsorption of glucose from the glomerular ultrafiltrate specifically in the renal epithelial cells, glucose uptake and utilization for meeting the body’s energy demands, and gluconeogenesis, i.e., endogenous glucose production from non-carbohydrate sources[55,56].

Similar to liver tissue, renal gluconeogenesis and metabolism were found to be dysregulated in diabetes and the insulin-resistant state[6,7]. There are studies which suggest that renal epithelial cells double their glucose uptake in response to insulin stimulation via translocation of GLUT (GLUT1 and GLUT4) to the plasma membrane, which accentuates the effect of insulin on renal gluconeogenesis and on systemic blood glucose levels[65]. Moreover, hyperinsulinemia is reported to inhibit glucose production and stimulate glucose uptake by the renal epithelial cells[60,66]. Both experimental and clinical studies have documented the insulin-mediated regulation of uptake and release of glucose. A hyperinsulinemic clamp study in humans showed a 61% decrease in renal glucose output and approximately a 72% decrease in renal glutamine gluconeogenesis [much higher than liver (25%)] in subjects treated with insulin[67]. Insulin has also been reported to affect the transport of gluconeogenic substrates in the kidney[68]. These studies highlighted the significance and magnitude of renal glucose production, and also revealed higher sensitivity of renal glucose release towards insulin as compared to liver. Moreover, enhanced renal gluconeogenesis in the post-absorptive conditions has been suggested to contribute towards hyperglycemia in Type 2 diabetes in the insulin-resistant state. This is supported by the increased intrinsic gluconeogenesis with simultaneous decrease in IR levels reported in the kidney cortex of Zucker diabetic fatty rats[69]. In addition, a marked decrease in IR expression has been observed in the renal cortex of high-fat diet-fed rats as well as in Type 2 diabetic patients[6,7,69,70].

The role of insulin/IR signaling in regulation of gluconeogenesis transcriptional modulation of gluconeogenic genes, i.e., PCK1 and G6PC is well known in liver[71-73]. However, studies on the role of the IR in renal gluconeogenesis regulation are limited. In 2012, a study from the DeFronzo lab elucidated that insulin negatively regulates gluconeogenesis via downregulating the expression of key gluconeogenic genes in the kidney[74]. Around the same time, our group demonstrated that targeted deletion of the IR from the PT resulted in hyperglycemia despite normal whole body insulin sensitivity[20]. More so, an increased activity and elevated mRNA expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase, a rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis) was observed in the PT-specific IRKO mice, signifying the involvement of the IR in regulating the expression of key gluconeogenic genes. Further, reduced IR expression and early IR signaling along with a significant increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) levels were found in kidney cortex of high-fat diet-fed mice[75], providing a clue to the possible mechanism of insulin involving transcriptional regulation of PEPCK, also a rate-limiting gene in gluconeogenesis. In liver, insulin has been shown to suppress the expression of gluconeogenic genes, G6Pase and PEPCK[76]. In vitro studies performed in primary PT cells from human kidney (hPT) showed an inhibitory role of insulin on cAMP/DEXA-induced gluconeogenesis, and silencing of IR attenuated this inhibitory effect of insulin on PT-gluconeogenesis in hPT[77]. All these findings clearly state that reduced IR expression/signaling might have a causal function in gluconeogenic gene upregulation and gluconeogenesis.

In vitro studies from our group has demonstrated that loss of IR in human proximal tubule cells attenuated the inhibitory effect of insulin on PEPCK expression in hPT cells[77]. These studies, suggest that impaired insulin sensitivity of PT may affect whole body glucose homeostasis by elevating gluconeogenesis via transcriptional induction of gluconeogenic enzymes in the kidney. However, the mechanism by which IR signaling targets gluconeogenic genes in PT needs to be further elucidated. A recent study from Yáñez lab demonstrated downregulation of IR levels, which was accompanied by increased expression and activity of PEPCK in the kidney of both Type 2 diabetic patients (Figure 4) and in a Type 1 diabetic rat model. Moreover, they also observed an apical redistribution of gluconeogenic genes in both the models, implying that insulin signaling may regulate gluconeogenesis through luminal substrate uptake[6]. Recently, Horita et al[78], put forward a concept of “selective insulin resistance” in kidney. The state of selective insulin resistance has been recognized in the case of liver, where inhibition of gluconeogenesis by the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 2 is hindered, whereas IRS1-regulated lipogenesis is not altered. On the contrary, in kidney, IRS1-dependent inhibition of gluconeogenesis is impaired in the proximal tubule leading to hyperglycemia, while IRS2-dependent signaling is preserved[78-81]. Sasaki et al[82] have also reported the role of insulin signaling in maintaining systemic glucose homeostasis in IRS1/IRS2 double KO mice. This study emphasized dual regulation of gluconeogenesis by insulin signaling and glucose reabsorption. This is in consonance with previous studies suggesting impaired glucose levels in diabetic human PT because of enhanced glucose reabsorption and insulin-dependent inhibition of gluconeogenesis[74,83,84], ultimately leading to more glucose release by the kidney as compared to the liver[58]. In the light of these findings, regulation of renal gluconeogenesis is still a matter of debate because both suppression and elevation of gluconeogenic gene expression has been reported in experimental rodent models of diabetes[6,85]. These observations open a whole new avenue for investigating the role of IRs in renal glucose homeostasis.

Figure 4.

Expression patterns of insulin receptor and gluconeogenic enzymes in normal and diabetic human kidney. A: Expression of FBPase, PEPCK, IR, and tubulin in renal cortex biopsies of control and Type 2 diabetic individuals analyzed by western blotting; B: Immunohistochemical analysis of FBPase, PEPCK, and IR in renal cortex biopsies of control and Type 2 diabetic individuals (Figure is taken from reference number[6] with permission). PEPCK: Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase; IR: Insulin receptor.

Together, it can be implied that impaired renal insulin signaling (especially IR signaling) may increase gluconeogenesis, and in the setting of insulin resistance, these impairments can further contribute to other deleterious effects. Therefore, more conclusive studies are warranted to understand the pathophysiological association of renal insulin signaling and glucose metabolism.

RENAL IR IN PROTEINURIA

The presence of proteins especially albumin in urine, aka proteinuria is an important hallmark of renal disease, including diabetic nephropathy. Although glomerular dysfunction is an established cause of proteinuria[86,87], impaired tubular function also contributes to albuminuria in diabetic nephropathy[88,89]. Normally, albumin is reabsorbed by the PT cells through receptor-mediated and fluid phase endocytosis[90]. In the proximal tubules, receptor-mediated reabsorption of albumin is executed by endocytic receptors, megalin and cubilin that are highly expressed in the apical membrane of the PT cells[91]. Existing evidences suggest that besides other factors, insulin could have a potential role in albumin uptake by the PT cells in diabetic and non-diabetic conditions. Retrieval of albumin from ultrafiltrate by the PT cells is crucial for kidney homeostasis. A cohort study on non-diabetic individuals (Relationship between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular Disease; RISC) proposed a causal relationship between insulin resistance and albuminuria[92]. The RISC study demonstrated that reduced insulin sensitivity, measured by a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, is linked to increased risk of albuminuria in a healthy cohort.

Intriguingly, various studies have reported that insulin could also have a potential role in albumin uptake by the PT cells in diabetes. In the STZ-induced diabetic mice model, downregulation of pSer473-Akt expression in the proximal tubule epithelial cells was accompanied by decreased expression of megalin and cubilin establishing the link between insulin signaling and albumin uptake[93]. Recently, Zeng et al[94], showed that the ORAI (calcium release-activated calcium channels) are also accountable for the internalization of albumin in proximal tubular epithelial cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and expression of these channels is insulin-dependent. In concordance with previous studies, Mottl et al[95] showed that the urinary ACR was positively associated with insulin-resistant young Type 2 diabetic subjects. Moreover, insulin treatment under high-glucose conditions increased megalin expression and albumin internalization in OK cells[96]. Insulin treatment has attenuated urine albumin excretion in Akita mice also[97]. These reports establish a causal role of PT-specific insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of albuminuria; however, exact mechanism of insulin-dependent albumin uptake needs to be elucidated.

Recent data from our laboratory showed that targeted deletion of IRs from the proximal tubule impairs tubular albumin uptake and results in albuminuria in mice (unpublished data). We have also established circulating insulin levels as a determinant of tubular albumin uptake. Moreover, down-regulation of IR and early IR signaling in the kidney has been reported in Type 2 diabetes and models of insulin resistance[7] , which can contribute to elevated albuminuria. These recent findings support a direct physiological role of PT-specific insulin action on albumin uptake and albuminuria.

CONCLUSION

The physiological relevance of IRs in renal epithelial cells has gained more attention in recent years. Studies based on targeted deletion of IR have now provided sufficient evidence to suggest the significance of the renal IR in kidney physiology and pathology. In addition, these studies have enhanced our understanding surrounding the contribution of reduced renal IR observed in the insulin-resistance state. Overall, it can be suggested that modulation of insulin signaling at the receptor level could significantly affect kidney function, which thereby may result in systemic effects. However, more mechanistic studies are warranted to understand the causal role of reduced renal IR in the regulation of blood pressure, systemic glucose levels, and proteinuria.

ACNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Dr. Carolyn M Ecelbarger (Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States) for proofreading the manuscript.