Effects of ketoisocaproic acid and inflammation on glucose transport in muscle cells

Branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) are regulators of protein metabolism. However, elevated levels of BCAAs and their metabolites are linked to insulin resistance. We previously demonstrated that the leucine metabolite, α‐ketoisocaproate (KIC), inhibited insulin‐stimulated glucose transport in myotubes. Like KIC, inflammatory factors are implicated in the development of insulin resistance. Here, we analyzed the effect of KIC and inflammatory factors (homocysteine [50 μM], TNF‐α [10 ng/ml], and interleukin 6 (IL‐6) [10 ng/ml]) on myotubes. Although KIC suppressed insulin‐stimulated glucose transport, addition of the inflammatory factors did not worsen this effect. Depletion of branched‐chain aminotransferase 2, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of leucine into KIC, abrogated the effect of KIC and the inflammatory factors. The effect of insulin on AKT(S473) and S6K1(T389) phosphorylation was not modified by treatments. There were no treatment effects on glycogen synthase phosphorylation. Depletion of E1α subunit of branched‐chain α‐keto acid dehydrogenase, the enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of KIC, suppressed insulin‐stimulated glucose transport, especially in cells incubated in KIC. Thus, defects in BCAA catabolism are contributory to insulin resistance of glucose transport in myotubes, especially in the presence of KIC. Interventions that increase BCAA catabolism may promote muscle glucose utilization and improve insulin resistance and its sequelae.