Aims/hypothesis  

Induction of stress kinases leading to serine hyperphosphorylation of IRS1 may link oxidative stress to insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of the phosphorylated serine residues Ser307 and Ser632, two sites implicated in the inhibition of IRS1 function in insulin signalling.

Materials and methods  

Fao hepatoma cells were exposed to an H₂O₂-generating system, and antibodies against the two phosphorylated serine residues were used for immunoprecipitation, immunoblot and immunofluorescence analyses.

Results  

Exposure to ∼50 μmol/l H₂O₂ for 2 h resulted in IRS1 phosphorylation on both Ser307 and Ser632, concomitant with activation of inhibitor kappa kinase β (IKKβ) and c-Jun kinase (JNK). Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that the maximum overlap between phospho (p) Ser307-IRS1 and pSer632-IRS1 was 20%, and confocal microscopy suggested distinct localisations of IRS1 molecules phosphorylated on either site. Although pSer307-IRS1 showed decreased insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and interaction with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in response to insulin, pSer632-IRS1 molecules were normally tyrosine-phosphorylated and exhibited typical associated PI3K activity. Salicylic acid and SP600125 partially inhibited IKKβ and JNK, respectively, which indicated distinct roles for these two kinases in the phosphorylation of IRS1 at the two serine sites. Protection against oxidation-mediated impairment in insulin-induced phosphorylation of protein kinase B/Akt and in glycogen synthesis was achieved only by combining salicylic acid and SP600125.

Conclusions/interpretation  

These results suggest that pSer307-IRS1 and pSer632-IRS1 may define two minimally overlapping pools of IRS1 in response to oxidative stress, contributing differentially to insulin resistance. A combination of stress kinase inhibitors is required to protect against insulin resistance and IRS1 hyperphosphorylation induced by oxidative stress.