THE LEUCOCYTE SODIUM PUMP IN HEALTHY AND OBESE SUBJECTS: THE ASSOCIATION OF INSULIN WITH ITS ACTIVITY

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Leucocyte ouabain-sensitive 22Na+ efflux was studied in 35 normal and 12 obese subjects. This efflux rate constant was raised in the obese (2.72 +/- SEM 0.13 vs 2.31 +/- 0.08 h-1, P less than 0.006), indicating a higher activity of the sodium pump in vivo, There was a significant correlation between this efflux rate constant and fasting insulin level in both the whole population and in the normals alone (rs = 0.36, P less than 0.007, and rs = 0.40, P less than 0.009 respectively). A hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp was performed on seven normal volunteers. After 2 h, there was a significant stimulation of the leucocyte efflux rate constant (from 2.86 +/- 0.17 to 3.33 +/- 0.18 h-1, P less than 0.01). In-vitro incubation of leucocytes with insulin produced a maximal stimulation of the Na+-K+-ATPase activity of about 35% at 2 h with half-maximal stimulation achieved at 46 mU/l. Insulin (100 mU/l) also stimulated the leucocyte ouabain-sensitive 22Na+ efflux rate constant in vitro by about 11% with or without 1 h of preincubation with the insulin. These findings may explain the hypokalaemic and sodium retaining effects of insulin in man; they may also partially explain the raised Na+ efflux rate constants in obesity.