INCREASED INSULIN BINDING BY LYMPHOCYTE RECEPTORS INDUCED BY β-OH BUTYRATE

Abstract

The serum concentration of ketones increases in both fasting and diabetic ketoacidosis. Whether ketones alter, independent of changes in pH, the number and affinity of insulin receptors is not known. The binding of insulin ¹²⁵I by 24 × 10⁶IM-9 lymphocyte cells was examined in both the presence and absence of 8 mM β-OH butyrate. Studies were conducted at multiple concentrations of insulin. A consistent increase of insulin binding was induced by β-OH butyrate. The mean maximum increase of insulin binding was 35%, which achieved significance at the 1% level.