Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B-deficient myocytes show increased insulin sensitivity and protection against tumor necrosis factor-α-induced insulin resistance

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)1B is a negative regulator of insulin signaling and a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes. In this study, we have assessed the role of PTP1B in the insulin sensitivity of skeletal muscle under physiological and insulin-resistant conditions. Immortalized myocytes have been generated from PTP1B-deficient and wild-type neonatal mice. PTP1B-/- myocytes showed enhanced insulin-dependent activation of insulin receptor autophosphorylation and downstream signaling (tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate [IRS]-1 and IRS-2, activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and serine phosphorylation of AKT), compared with wild-type cells. Accordingly, PTP1B-/- myocytes displayed higher insulin-dependent stimulation of glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane than wildtype cells. Treatment with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced insulin resistance on glucose uptake, impaired insulin signaling, and increased PTP1B activity in wild-type cells. Conversely, the lack of PTP1B confers protection against insulin resistance by TNF-α in myocyte cell lines and in adult male mice. Wild-type mice treated with TNF-α developed a pronounced hyperglycemia along the glucose tolerance test, accompanied by an impaired insulin signaling and increased PTP1B activity in muscle. However, mice lacking PTP1B maintained a rapid clearance of glucose and insulin sensitivity and displayed normal muscle insulin signaling regardless the presence of TNF-α. © 2007 by the American Diabetes Association.M.L. has received grant BFU2005-03054 from Ministry of Education and Science (MEC), Spain. A.M.V. has received grant BFU2005-01615 from MEC. I.N.-V. and C.d.A. have received fellowships from MEC. S.F.-V. was a recipient of a contract Juan de la Cierva from MEC.Peer Reviewe