Insulin sensitivity is related to fat oxidation and protein kinase C activity in children with acute burn injury

Melanie G. Cree, Jennifer J. Zwetsloot, David N. Herndon, Bradley R. Newcomer, Ricki Y. Fram, Carlos Angel, Justin M. Green, Gerald L. Dohm, Dayoung Sun, Asle Aarsland, Robert R. Wolfe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Impaired fatty acid oxidation occurs with type 2 diabetes and is associated with accumulations of intracellular lipids, which may increase diacylglycerol (DAG), stimulate protein kinase C activity, and inactivate insulin signaling. Glucose and fat metabolism are altered in burn patients, but have never been related to intracellular lipids or insulin signaling. Thirty children sustaining > 40% total body surface area burns were studied acutely with glucose and palmitate tracer infusions and a hyper-insulinemic euglycemic clamp. Muscle triglyceride,DAG, fatty acyl CoA, and insulin signaling were measured. Liver and muscle triglyceride levels were measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Muscle samples from healthy children were controls for DAG concentrations. Insulin sensitivity was reduced and correlated with whole body palmitate β-oxidation (P= .004). Muscle insulin signaling was not stimulated by hyper-insulinemia. Tissue triglyceride concentrations and activated protein kinase C-β were elevated, whereas the concentration of DAG was similar to the controls. Free fatty acid profiles of muscle triglyceride did not match DAG. Insulin resistance following burn injury is accompanied by decreased insulin signaling and increased protein kinase C-β activation. The best metabolic predictor of insulin resistance in burned patients was palmitate oxidation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)585-594
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Burn Care and Research
Volume29
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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