TRIM32 regulates insulin sensitivity by controlling insulin receptor degradation in the liver

Impaired insulin receptor signaling is strongly linked to obesity-related metabolic conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, the exact mechanisms behind impaired insulin receptor (INSR) signaling in obesity induced by a high-fat diet remain elusive. In this study, we identify an E3 ubiquitin ligase, tripartite motif-containing protein 32 (TRIM32), as a key regulator of hepatic insulin signaling that targets the insulin receptor (INSR) for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation in high-fat diet (HFD) mice. HFD induces the nuclear translocation of SREBP-1c (Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein 1c), resulting in increased expression of TRIM32 in hepatocytes. TRIM32 ubiquitylates INSR and facilitates its proteasomal degradation, leading to severe insulin resistance and fat accumulation within the liver of high-fat diet induced obese (DIO) mice. Conversely, liver-specific knockdown of TRIM32 enhances INSR expression and hepatic insulin sensitivity. Reduced AMPK signaling and phosphorylation of SREBP-1c at S372 in high-fat DIO mice promotes the nuclear translocation of SREBP-1c, leading to increased TRIM32 expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that TRIM32 promotes diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance by targeting the INSR to degradation.