Down-regulated insulin receptors in HepG2 cells have an altered intracellular itinerary

The delivery of insulin and the insulin receptor into an intracellular compartment may be important for eliciting some of the biologic responses of the cell to the hormone. Internalization of insulin-receptor complexes in cells from hyperinsulinemic type II diabetic patients is diminished, suggesting a possible role for this cellular process in insulin resistance. To examine whether hyperinsulinemia contributes to defective insulin-receptor processing in vitro, cultured hepatoma cells (HepG2) were incubated with high concentrations of (500 ng/ml) insulin from 1-3 days. Insulin induced a decrease in the number of total and surface insulin receptors within 24 hours; however, the hormone did not mediate a change in the number of intracellular receptors. The cellular itinerary of control and down-regulated receptors were then compared. Insulin mediated internalization of down-regulated receptors was impaired compared to control receptors; however, the down-regulated receptors that were internalized recycled back to the plasma membrane more efficiently. By covalently labeling the insulin receptor with the photoactive insulin derivative, 125I-NAPA-DP-insulin, it was demonstrated that the rates of receptor degradation of down-regulated and control receptors were similar. These results suggest that incubating HepG2 cells with high concentrations of insulin alters the cellular itinerary of the insulin receptor.