IPMK modulates insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic glucose production

Hepatic glucose production is crucial for the maintenance of normal glucose homeostasis. Although hepatic insulin resistance contributes to excessive glucose production, its mechanism is not well understood. Here, we show that inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK), a key enzyme in inositol polyphosphate biosynthesis, plays a role in regulating hepatic insulin signaling and gluconeogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.IPMK-deficient hepatocytes exhibit decreased insulin-induced activation of Akt-FoxO1 signaling. The expression of mRNA levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (Pck1) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6pc), key enzymes mediating gluconeogenesis, are increased in IPMK-deficient hepatocytes compared to wild type (WT) hepatocytes. Importantly, re-expressing IPMK restores insulin sensitivity and alleviates glucose production in IPMK-deficient hepatocytes. Moreover, hepatocyte-specific IPMK deletion exacerbates hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD), accompanied by an increase in hepatic glucose production during pyruvate tolerance test and reduction in Akt phosphorylation in IPMK deficient liver. Our results demonstrate that IPMK mediates insulin signaling and gluconeogenesis and may be potentially targeted for treatment of diabetes. HighlightsIPMK expression is reduced in livers of HFD-fed mice. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of IPMK in mice aggravated HFD-induced insulin resistance. Loss of IPMK decreased insulin-induced activation of Akt-FoxO1 signaling, leading to the increase of glucose production in hepatocytes.