BMPs as new insulin sensitizers: enhanced glucose uptake in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes via PPARγ and GLUT4 upregulation

Insulin-resistance is the main cause of type 2 diabetes. Here we describe the identification and characterization of BMP2 and BMP6 as new insulin-sensitizing growth factors in mature adipocytes. We show that BMP2 and BMP6 lead to enhanced insulin-mediated glucose uptake in both insulin-sensitive and -insensitive adipocytes. We exclude a direct effect of BMP2 or BMP6 on translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane and demonstrate that these BMPs increase GLUT4 protein levels equipotent to Rosiglitazone. BMPs induce expression of PPARγ as the crucial mediator for the insulin-sensitizing effect. A comprehensive RNA-Seq analysis in mature adipocytes revealed regulation of both BMP/Smad and PPARγ target genes. The effects of BMP2 and BMP6 are not completely redundant and include regulation of genes involved in glucose and fatty acid metabolism and adipokine expression. Collectively, these findings suggest the BMP2 and BMP6 pathway(s) as promising new drug targets to treat insulin resistance.