Insulin resistance affects the cytoprotective effect of insulin in cardiomyocytes through an impairment of MAPK phosphatase-1 expression.

Insulin protects cardiomyocytes from apoptosis. Insulin resistance usually refers to a defect in the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake. It is unknown, however, whether or not insulin resistance compromises the cell-protective effect of the hormone. Caspases are a family of cysteine proteases that regulate apoptosis.We explored the effects of insulin resistance on hypoxia-induced caspase-3 activation in cardiomyocytes.