Mitochondrial respiratory chain is involved in insulin-stimulated hydrogen peroxide production and plays an integral role in insulin receptor autophosphorylation in neurons

Background  

Accumulated evidence suggests that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generated in cells during insulin stimulation plays an integral role in insulin receptor signal transduction. The role of insulin-induced H₂O₂ in neuronal insulin receptor activation and the origin of insulin-induced H₂O₂ in neurons remain unclear. The aim of the present study is to test the following hypotheses (1) whether insulin-induced H₂O₂ is required for insulin receptor autophosphorylation in neurons, and (2) whether mitochondrial respiratory chain is involved in insulin-stimulated H₂O₂ production, thus playing an integral role in insulin receptor autophosphorylation in neurons.