Skeletal Muscle 11 beta HSD1 Activity of Nondiabetic Subjects is Unaltered in Central Obesity-associated Insulin Resistance

Abstract

Local activation of glucocorticoids in insulin target tissues by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) has been implicated in the etiology of the metabolic syndrome. In obesity, adipose tissue 11βHSD1 is upregulated, leading to the generation of higher tissue levels of cortisol, which may increase insulin resistance. However, skeletal muscle is the predominant site of insulin-mediated glucose disposal, which is known to be reduced in obesity. We aimed to determine if there is any relationship between skeletal muscle 11βHSD1 and markers of central adiposity and insulin resistance in nondiabetic subjects. 20 nondiabetic volunteers (8 males and 12 females, mean age 55 ± 1..