Extracellular matrix proteins modulate endocytosis of the insulin receptor

Internalization of the insulin receptor (IR) is a highly regulated multi-step process whose underlying molecular basis is not fully understood. Here we undertook to study the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the modulation of IR internalization. Employing Chinese hamster ovary cells that overexpress IR (CHO-T cells), our results indicate that IR internalization proceeds unaffected even when Tyr phosphorylation of IR substrates, such as IRS-1, is impaired (e.g. in CHO-T cells overexpressing IRS-1 whose pleckstrin-homology domain has been deleted or in CHO-T cells that overexpress the PH/PTB domain of IRS-1). In contrast, IR internalization is affected by the context of the ECM proteins to which the cells adhere. Hence, IR internalization was inhibited 40-60% in CHO-T cells adherent onto galectin-8 (an ECM protein and an integrin ligand of the galectin family) when compared with cells adherent onto fibronectin, collagen, or laminin. Cells adherent to galectin-8 manifested a unique cytoskeletal organization, which involved formation of cortical actin and generation of F-actin microspikes that contrasted with the prominent stress-fibers formed when cells adhered to fibronectin. To better establish a role for actin filament organization in IR endocytosis, this process was assayed in CHO-T cells (adherent onto fibronectin), whose actin filaments were disrupted upon treatment with latrunculin B. Latrunculin B did not affect insulin-induced Tyr phosphorylation of IR or its ability to phosphorylate its substrates; still, a 30-50% reduction in the rate of IR internalization was observed in cells treated with latrunculin B. Treatment of cells with nocodazole, which disrupts formation of microtubules, did not affect IR internalization. These results indicate that proper actin, but not microtubular, organization is a critical requirement for IR internalization and suggest that integrin-mediated signaling pathways emitted upon cell adhesion to different extracellular matrices and the altered cytoskeletal organizations generated thereof affect the itinerary of the insulin receptor.