Insulin attenuates TNFα-induced hemopexin mRNA: An anti-inflammatory action of insulin in rat H4IIE hepatoma cells

•The TNF-α-induced increase of hemopexin mRNA was dramatically attenuated by insulin.•This occurred even though TNF-α significantly decreased insulin activation of ERK.•This suggests an additional mechanism for the anti-inflammatory action of insulin.•Cytokine-induced insulin resistance does not abolish insulin's anti-inflammatory effect.

Proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-6, can contribute to insulin resistance. Conversely, insulin has some actions that can be considered anti-inflammatory. Hemopexin is a Class 2 acute phase reactant and control of its transcription is predominantly regulated by IL-6, with TNF-α and IL-1β also inducing hemopexin gene expression. Thus, we asked whether insulin could inhibit the ability of TNF-α to stimulate hemopexin mRNA expression. In cultured rat hepatoma (H4IIE) cells, TNF-α significantly increased hemopexin mRNA accumulation. The TNF-α-induced increase of hemopexin mRNA was dramatically attenuated by insulin, even though TNF-α reduced peak insulin activation of ERK. Thus, even though TNF-α can contribute to insulin resistance, the residual insulin response was still able to counteract TNF-α actions.