Muscle-specific Pten deletion protects against insulin resistance and diabetes

Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Feb;25(3):1135-45. doi: 10.1128/MCB.25.3.1135-1145.2005.

Abstract

Pten (phosphatase with tensin homology), a dual-specificity phosphatase, is a negative regulator of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway. Pten regulates a vast array of biological functions including growth, metabolism, and longevity. Although the PI3K/Akt pathway is a key determinant of the insulin-dependent increase in glucose uptake into muscle and adipose cells, the contribution of this pathway in muscle to whole-body glucose homeostasis is unclear. Here we show that muscle-specific deletion of Pten protected mice from insulin resistance and diabetes caused by high-fat feeding. Deletion of muscle Pten resulted in enhanced insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and Akt phosphorylation in soleus but, surprisingly, not in extensor digitorum longus muscle compared to littermate controls upon high-fat feeding, and these mice were spared from developing hyperinsulinemia and islet hyperplasia. Muscle Pten may be a potential target for treatment or prevention of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Deoxyglucose / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism*
  • Hyperinsulinism / genetics
  • Hyperinsulinism / metabolism
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance / genetics
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology*
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism*
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / genetics
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Deoxyglucose
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase