RETRACTED: Quercetin suppresses insulin receptor signaling through inhibition of the insulin ligand-receptor binding and therefore impairs cancer cell proliferation

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014 Oct 3;452(4):1028-33. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.09.039. Epub 2014 Sep 18.

Abstract

Although the flavonoid quercetin is known to inhibit activation of insulin receptor signaling, the inhibitory mechanism is largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that quercetin suppresses insulin induced dimerization of the insulin receptor (IR) through interfering with ligand-receptor interactions, which reduces the phosphorylation of IR and Akt. This inhibitory effect further inhibits insulin stimulated glucose uptake due to decreased cell membrane translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), resulting in impaired cancer cell proliferation. The effect of quercetin in inhibiting tumor growth was also evident in an in vivo model, indicating a potential future application for quercetin in the treatment of cancers.

Keywords: Cancer therapy; Insulin receptor signaling; Quercetin; Single-molecule force measurement; Single-molecule imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Quercetin / administration & dosage*
  • Receptor, Insulin / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Insulin
  • Quercetin
  • Receptor, Insulin