Loss of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B increases IGF-I receptor tyrosine phosphorylation but does not rescue retinal defects in IRS2-deficient mice

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013 Jun 19;54(6):4215-25. doi: 10.1167/iovs.12-11438.

Abstract

Purpose: Mice with deletion of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 2 develop type 2 diabetes and photoreceptor degeneration. Loss of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in diabetic IRS2(-/-) mice restores insulin sensitivity and normalizes glucose homeostasis. Since insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-IR promotes survival of photoreceptors and is a substrate of PTP1B, we investigated IGF-IR-mediated survival signaling and visual function in PTP1B(-/-) and double mutant IRS2(-/-)/PTP1B(-/-) mice.

Methods: IGF-IR-mediated Akt signaling was evaluated in IGF-I-stimulated retinal explants. Histologic and electroretinogram analysis was performed in wild-type (WT), IRS2(-/-), PTP1B(-/-), and the double mutant IRS2(-/-)/PTP1B(-/-) mice.

Results: IGF-I stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of its receptor and Akt activation in retinal explants of WT mice. In PTP1B(-/-) retinal explants, these responses were enhanced. Conversely, in retinas from IRS2(-/-) mice, expression of PTP1B was increased, coincident with decreased IGF-I-mediated Akt serine 473 phosphorylation. PTP1B deletion in IRS2(-/-) mice also enhanced IGF-IR tyrosine phosphorylation but, unexpectedly, did not rescue Akt activation in response to IGF-I. One potential explanation is that PTEN was increased in retinas of IRS2(-/-) and IRS2(-/-)/PTP1B(-/-) mice. Histologic evaluation revealed alterations in various structures of the retina in IRS2(-/-) and IRS2(-/-)/PTP1B(-/-) mice, specifically in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and retinal outer segments (ROS). Electroretinogram (ERG) analysis confirmed that PTP1B deficiency did not restore visual function in IRS2(-/-) mice.

Conclusions: Although loss of PTP1B enhances tyrosine phosphorylation of the IGF-IR in retinal explants of IRS2(-/-) mice, Akt activation remains defective owing to elevated PTEN levels and, thus, structural and functional visual defects persist in this model.

Keywords: IGF-I; IRS2; PTP1B; retinal explants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins / deficiency*
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 / deficiency
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Retinal Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Irs2 protein, mouse
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1