Elevated free fatty acids attenuate the insulin-induced suppression of PDK4 gene expression in human skeletal muscle: potential role of intramuscular long-chain acyl-coenzyme A.

Description

This metabolic study investigated the effects of acutely increasing free fatty acid levels via an intra-lipid plus heparin infusion performed during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. The investigators found that the resulting accumulation of intra-muscular lipids played a greater role than impaired activation of Akt-mediated pathways in regulating muscle PDK4 gene expression during an acute insulin-resistant state resulting from increased free fatty acid levels.