Inhibition of PI-3 kinase/Akt/mTOR, but not calcineurin signaling, reverses insulin-like growth factor I-induced protection against glucose toxicity in cardiomyocyte contractile function

J Endocrinol. 2005 Sep;186(3):491-503. doi: 10.1677/joe.1.06168.

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) ameliorates cardiac dysfunction in diabetes although the mechanism of action remains poorly understood. This study examined the role of PI-3 kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and calcineurin pathways in cardiac effects of IGF-1 against glucose toxicity. Adult rat ventricular myocytes were cultured for 8 h with either normal (NG, 5.5 mM) or high (HG, 25.5 mM) glucose, in the presence or absence of IGF-1 (10-500 nM), the PI-3 kinase/Akt inhibitor LY294002 (10 microM), the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (20 microM) or the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A (5 microM) or FK506 (10 mg/l). Mechanical properties were evaluated using an IonOptix MyoCam system. HG depressed peak shortening (PS), reduced maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/- dl/dt) and prolongs time-to-90% relengthening (TR90), which were abolished by IGF-1 (100 and 500 nM). Interestingly, the IGF-1-elicited protective effect against HG was nullified by either LY294002 or rapamycin, but not by cyclosporine A or FK506. None of the inhibitors affected cell mechanics. Western blot analysis indicated that HG and IGF-1 stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. HG also activated p70s6k and suppressed GSK-3beta phosphorylation. However, the HG-induced alterations in phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, p70s6k and GSK-3beta were significantly reversed by IGF-1. Protein expression of Akt, mTOR, p70s6k, GSK-3beta, SERCA2a and phospholamban was unaffected by HG, IGF-1 or rapamycin. Rapamycin significantly enhanced Akt phosphorylation whereas it inhibited mTOR phosphorylation. Collectively, our data suggest that IGF-1 may provide cardiac protection against glucose in part through a PI-3 kinase/Akt/mTOR/ p70s6k-dependent and calcineurin-independent pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcineurin Inhibitors*
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromones / pharmacology
  • Cyclosporine / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Glucose / adverse effects
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • Myocardial Contraction / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Tacrolimus / pharmacology

Substances

  • Calcineurin Inhibitors
  • Chromones
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Morpholines
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Cyclosporine
  • Protein Kinases
  • mTOR protein, rat
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases
  • Glucose
  • Sirolimus
  • Tacrolimus