Binding, internalization, and degradation of insulin in vascular endothelial cells

The interaction of insulin with the vascular endothelium was studied using bovine aortic endothelial cells in monolayer cultures. Confluent cell cultures exhibited specific binding of 125I-insulin to high- and low-affinity cell surface receptor sites. Binding was reversible, saturable, and accompanied by internalization and degradation of the bound hormone in a temperature- and time-dependent manner. Pre-exposure of the cultures to insulin resulted in a time-dependent reduction in the availability of cell surface receptors (downregulation). It is concluded that the occurrence of reversible insulin binding and of insulin degradation in endothelial cells supports the concept that the vascular endothelium compartment may regulate the level of insulin in the circulation.