A mathematical model of the impact of insulin secretion dynamics on selective hepatic insulin resistance

Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 8;8(1):1362. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01627-9.

Abstract

Physiological insulin secretion exhibits various temporal patterns, the dysregulation of which is involved in diabetes development. We analyzed the impact of first-phase and pulsatile insulin release on glucose and lipid control with various hepatic insulin signaling networks. The mathematical model suggests that atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) undergoes a bistable switch-on and switch-off, under the control of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2). The activation of IRS1 and IRS2 is temporally separated due to the inhibition of IRS1 by aPKC. The model further shows that the timing of aPKC switch-off is delayed by reduced first-phase insulin and reduced amplitude of insulin pulses. Based on these findings, we propose a sequential model of postprandial hepatic control of glucose and lipid by insulin, according to which delayed aPKC switch-off contributes to selective hepatic insulin resistance, which is a long-standing paradox in the field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Protein Kinase C