Insulin-induced cytokine production as potential contributor to hepatic insulin resistance

Overweight or obese patients try to compensate their insulin resistance by an enhanced production of insulin in pancreatic beta-cell. Since pancreatic hormones are released into the portal circulation, liver is exposed to very high concentrations of insulin over prolonged periods in these patients. There is evidence that insulin might enhance the inflammatory response to e.g. endotoxin in immune cells. Therefore, the hypothesis was tested that insulin per se might trigger the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. These cytokines in turn might render hepatocytes insulin-resistant. Human U937 cel…