Resistin disrupts glycogen synthesis under high insulin and high glucose levels by down-regulating the hepatic levels of GSK3β

• Resistin induces insulin resistance in primary rat hepatocytes.
• Liver-specific expression of resistin leads to changes in glucose metabolism.
• Resistin impairs insulin sensitivity by down-regulating the levels of GSK3β.

The effect of mouse resistin on hepatic insulin resistance in vivo and in vitro, and its possible molecular mechanism were examined. Focusing on liver glycogen metabolism and gluconeogenesis, which are important parts of glucose metabolism, in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes we found that glycogen content was significantly lower (P < 0.05) after treatment with recombinant murine resistin only in the presence of insulin plus glucose stimulation. Protein levels of factors in the insulin signaling pathway involved in glycogen synthesis were examined by Western blot analysis, with the only significant change observed being the level of phosphorylated (at Ser 9) glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) (P < 0.001). No differences in the protein levels for the insulin receptor β (IRβ), insulin receptor substrates (IRS1 and IRS2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) or their phosphorylated forms were observed between control and resistin treated primary rat hepatocytes. In a mouse model with high liver-specific expression of resistin, fasting blood glucose levels and liver glycogen content changed. Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the model mice, compared to the control mice, while the glycogen content of the liver tissue was about 60% of that of the control mice (P < 0.05). The gluconeogenic response was not altered between the experimental and control mice. The level of phosphorylated GSK-3β in the liver tissue was also decreased (P < 0.05) in the model mice, consistent with the results from the primary rat hepatocytes. Our results suggest that resistin reduces the levels of GSK-3β phosphorylated at Ser 9 leading to impaired hepatic insulin action in primary rat hepatocytes and in a mouse model with high liver-specific expression of resistin.