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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2007; 115(2): 118-123
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967094
Article

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG · Stuttgart · New York

Insulin Causes a Transient Induction of Proliferation via Activation of the PI3-Kinase Pathway in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

M. Papagianni 1 , A. Hatziefthimiou 1 , G. Chachami 1 , 2 , K. Gourgoulianis 3 , P.-A. Molyvdas 1 , E. Paraskeva 1
  • 1Laboratory of Physiology, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
  • 2Laboratory of Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
  • 3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Further Information

Publication History

received 9.01.2006 first decision 3.04.2006

accepted 24.04.2006

Publication Date:
22 February 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Insulin regulates glucose metabolism and activates cell growth. As the respiratory system is an alternative route for insulin administration in patients with diabetes mellitus, we studied the effect of insulin on rabbit tracheal airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation. We show that treatment of quiescent ASM cells with insulin for 24 h increased cell number compared to control cells. This increase was similar to the increase caused by the addition of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Moreover, in contrast to cells treated with FBS, exposure of ASM cells with insulin for longer periods (48 and 72 h) did not have any further influence on cell proliferation. In ASM cells, insulin activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 K) pathway, while FBS activated both PI3 K and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The PI3K pathway inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin abolished the stimulation of cell proliferation by insulin, indicating a role for this pathway in the cellular response to insulin. These results show that while insulin has a mitogenic effect on ASM cells, prolonged insulin treatment does not lead to excessive ASM cell proliferation and suggest that the use of aerosolized insulin does not represent a potential hazard for airway remodeling.

Key words

signal transduction - diabetes - protein kinases

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Correspondence

E. Paraskeva

Laboratory of Physiology

Medical School

University of Thessaly

Papakiriazi 22

412 22 Larissa

Greece

Phone: +30/241/056 50 51

Fax: +30/241/056 50 64

Email: fparaskeva@med.uth.gr