Myotubes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells mirror in vivo insulin resistance

S Iovino, AM Burkart, L Warren… - Proceedings of the …, 2016 - National Acad Sciences
S Iovino, AM Burkart, L Warren, ME Patti, CR Kahn
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2016National Acad Sciences
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) represent a unique tool for the study of the
pathophysiology of human disease, because these cells can be differentiated into multiple
cell types in vitro and used to generate patient-and tissue-specific disease models. Given
the critical role for skeletal muscle insulin resistance in whole-body glucose metabolism and
type 2 diabetes, we have created a novel cellular model of human muscle insulin resistance
by differentiating iPS cells from individuals with mutations in the insulin receptor (IR-Mut) into …
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) represent a unique tool for the study of the pathophysiology of human disease, because these cells can be differentiated into multiple cell types in vitro and used to generate patient- and tissue-specific disease models. Given the critical role for skeletal muscle insulin resistance in whole-body glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes, we have created a novel cellular model of human muscle insulin resistance by differentiating iPS cells from individuals with mutations in the insulin receptor (IR-Mut) into functional myotubes and characterizing their response to insulin in comparison with controls. Morphologically, IR-Mut cells differentiated normally, but had delayed expression of some muscle differentiation-related genes. Most importantly, whereas control iPS-derived myotubes exhibited in vitro responses similar to primary differentiated human myoblasts, IR-Mut myotubes demonstrated severe impairment in insulin signaling and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. Transcriptional regulation was also perturbed in IR-Mut myotubes with reduced insulin-stimulated expression of metabolic and early growth response genes. Thus, iPS-derived myotubes from individuals with genetically determined insulin resistance demonstrate many of the defects observed in vivo in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle and provide a new model to analyze the molecular impact of muscle insulin resistance.
National Acad Sciences