Cyclic AMP impairs the rapid effect of insulin to enhance cell-surface insulin-binding capacity in rat adipocytes

The aim of this study was to characterize further the interaction between cyclic AMP (cAMP) and insulin binding and action. Rat adipocytes were preincubated at 37 degrees C for 20 min, and after energy depletion with KCN, cell-surface 125I-insulin binding was measured. As recently reported [Eriksson, Lönnroth & Smith (1992) Diabetes 41, 707-714], preincubation with insulin rapidly increased the number of cell-surface insulin binding sites up to approximately 5-fold through recruitment within the plasma membrane. This was completely abolished by the presence of 4 mM-N6-monobutyryl cAMP (a non-hydrolysable cAMP analogue) or 1 microM-isoprenaline, without any apparent change in receptor internalization. Insulin-stimulated receptor tyrosine kinase activity was attenuated by the cAMP analogue only if the exposure of the adipocytes was prolonged to 60 min. The cellular sensitivity to insulin, assessed as 3-O-methylglucose uptake, was markedly decreased by the cAMP analogue, and this could be attributed to the impaired cell-surface binding. However, evidence for post-receptor interactions between cAMP and insulin was also found: an impairment of maximal insulin-stimulated 3-O-methylglucose transport and a delay in the rate of activation of the glucose transport system by insulin. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that beta-adrenergic stimulation and elevated cAMP levels markedly impair the ability of insulin to enhance cell-surface insulin-binding capacity. This novel interaction may be an important mechanism for the cellular insensitivity to insulin produced by cAMP.