Global IRS-1 phosphorylation analysis in insulin resistance

IRS-1 serine phosphorylation is often elevated in insulin resistance models, but confirmation in vivo in humans is lacking. We therefore analysed IRS-1 phosphorylation in human muscle in vivo.

We used HPLC-electrospray ionisation (ESI)-MS/MS to quantify IRS-1 phosphorylation basally and after insulin infusion in vastus lateralis muscle from lean healthy, obese non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic volunteers.

Basal Ser323 phosphorylation was increased in type 2 diabetic patients (2.1 ± 0.43, p ≤ 0.05, fold change vs lean controls). Thr495 phosphorylation was decreased in type 2 diabetic patients (p ≤ 0.05). Insulin increased IRS-1 phosphorylation at Ser527 (1.4 ± 0.17, p ≤ 0.01, fold change, 60 min after insulin infusion vs basal) and Ser531 (1.3 ± 0.16, p ≤ 0.01, fold change, 60 min after insulin infusion vs basal) in the lean controls and suppressed phosphorylation at Ser348 (0.56 ± 0.11, p ≤ 0.01, fold change, 240 min after insulin infusion vs basal), Thr446 (0.64 ± 0.16, p ≤ 0.05, fold change, 60 min after insulin infusion vs basal), Ser1100 (0.77 ± 0.22, p ≤ 0.05, fold change, 240 min after insulin infusion vs basal) and Ser1142 (1.3 ± 0.2, p ≤ 0.05, fold change, 60 min after insulin infusion vs basal).

We conclude that, unlike some aspects of insulin signalling, the ability of insulin to increase or suppress certain IRS-1 phosphorylation sites is intact in insulin resistance. However, some IRS-1 phosphorylation sites do not respond to insulin, whereas other Ser/Thr phosphorylation sites are either increased or decreased in insulin resistance.