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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes
Published on: June 25, 2017
Extracellular Vesicles from Hypoxic Adipocytes and Obese Subjects Reduce Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Uptake
Justyna Mleczko1,2, Francisco J Ortega1,3,4, Juan Manuel Falcon-Perez2,5
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Scope:
We investigate the effects of extracellular vesicles (EVs) obtained from in vitro adipocyte cell models and from obese subjects on glucose transport and insulin responsiveness.
Methods And Results:
EVs are isolated from the culture supernatant of adipocytes cultured under normoxia, hypoxia (1% oxygen), or exposed to macrophage conditioned media (15% v/v). EVs are isolated from the plasma of lean individuals and subjects with obesity. Cultured adipocytes are incubated with EVs and activation of insulin signalling cascades and insulin-stimulated glucose transport are measured. EVs released from hypoxic adipocytes impair insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and reduce insulin mediated phosphorylation of AKT. Insulin-mediated phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinases (ERK1/2) is not affected. EVs from individuals with obesity decrease insulin stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake in adipocytes (p = 0.0159).
Conclusion:
EVs released by stressed adipocytes impair insulin action in neighboring adipocytes.
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