Dissociation between skeletal muscle inhibitor-{kappa}B kinase/nuclear factor-{kappa}B pathway activity and insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic twins

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Context: Several studies suggest a link between increased activity of the inflammatory inhibitor-kappaB kinase/nuclear factor-kappaB (IKK/NF-kappaB) pathway in skeletal muscle and insulin resistance. Objective: We aimed to study the regulation of skeletal muscle IKK/NF-kappaB pathway activity as well as the association with glucose metabolism and skeletal muscle insulin signaling. Methods: The study population included a metabolically well-characterized cohort of young and elderly predominantly nondiabetic twins (n = 181). Inhibitor-kappaBbeta (IkappaBbeta) protein levels are negatively associated with IKK/NF-kappaB pathway activity and were used to evaluate pathway activity with p65 levels included as loading control. This indirect measure for IKK/NF-kappaB pathway activity was validated by a p65 binding assay. Results: Evaluating the effects of heritability, age, sex, obesity, aerobic capacity, and several hormonal factors (eg insulin and TNF-alpha), only sex and age were significant predictors of IkappaBbeta to p65 ratio (28% decreased ratio in the elderly, P < 0.01, and 49% increased in males P < 0.01). IkappaBbeta to p65 ratio was unrelated to peripheral insulin sensitivity (P = 0.51) and in accordance with this also unrelated to proximal insulin signaling (P = 0.81). Although no association was seen with plasma glucose after oral glucose challenge, there was a tendency for lower IkappaBbeta to p65 ratio (adjusted for age and sex) in subjects with impaired as opposed to normal glucose tolerance (P = 0.055). Conclusions: Altogether the subtle elevated IKK/NF-kappaB pathway activity seen in glucose-intolerant subjects suggests that IKK/NF-kappaB pathway activation may be secondary to impaired glucose tolerance and that skeletal muscle IKK/NF-kappaB pathway activity is unlikely to play any major role in the control of skeletal muscle insulin action in nondiabetic subjects.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)414-421
Number of pages8
Publication statusPublished - 2010

ID: 15791244