New Evidence for the Role of Ceramide in the Development of Hepatic Insulin Resistance

AIM: There are few and contradictory data on the role of excessive accumulation of intracellular sphingolipids, particularly ceramides, in the development of hepatic insulin resistance. In our study we assessed accumulated sphingolipid fractions and clarify the mechanisms of hepatic insulin resistance development as well as involvement of fatty acid and ceramide transporters in this process. METHODS: In culture of primary rat hepatocytes, exposed to high concentration of palmitic acid (0.75mM) during short and prolonged incubation, high performance liquid chromatography was used to assess intra- and extracellular sphingolipid fractions content. Degree of palmitate-induced insulin resistance was estimated by measuring changes in phosphorylation of insulin pathway proteins by western blotting as well as changes in expression of different type of transporters. RESULTS: In our study short and prolonged exposure of primary hepatocytes to palmitic acid resulted in increased intracellular accumulation of ceramide which inhibited insulin signaling pathway. We observed a significant increase in the expression of fatty-acid transport protein (FATP2) and ceramide transfer protein (CERT) what is consistent with enhanced intracellular ceramide content. The content of extracellular ceramide was increased nearly threefold after short and twofold after long incubation period. Expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA1) was increased significantly mainly after short palmitate incubation. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that increase in intarcellular ceramide content contributes to the development of hepatic insulin resistance. We suggest pivotal role of transporters in facilitating fatty acid influx (FATP2), accumulation of ceramides (CERT) and export to the media (MTP and ABCA1).