Interference with Akt signaling pathway contributes curcumin-induced adipocyte insulin resistance

• Curcumin induced adipocyte insulin resistance via Akt degradation.
• Curcumin activated autophagy activity in adipocytes.
• Curcumin suppressed function of ubiquitin-proteasome system in adipocytes.

Previous study has shown that curcumin directly or indirectly suppresses insulin signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we experimentally demonstrate that curcumin inhibited the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) function, activated autophagy, and reduced protein levels of protein kinase B (Akt) in a dose- and time-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, accompanied with attenuation of insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation, plasma membrane translocation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), and glucose uptake. These in vitro inhibitory effects of curcumin on Akt protein expression and insulin action were reversed by pharmacological and genetic inhibition of autophagy but not by inhibition of the UPS and caspases. In addition, Akt reduction in adipose tissues of mice treated with curcumin could be recovered by administration of autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (BFA). This new finding provides a novel mechanism by which curcumin induces insulin resistance in adipocytes.