Patel M S, Raefsky C, Hu C W, Ho L
Biochem J. 1985 Mar 1;226(2):607-11. doi: 10.1042/bj2260607.
Chronic exposure of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes to dexamethasone plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) with or without insulin caused a significant increase in the specific activity of 'total' pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) and in the percentage of the 'active' form of the complex compared with cells exposed to a chronic insulin treatment or an acute treatment (2 days) with dexamethasone plus IBMX. In acute-drug-switch-over experiments, dexamethasone also caused an increase in the percentage of 'active' PDC in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The results show that, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, dexamethasone, even in the absence of insulin, increases the proportion of PDC in its 'active' form. The mechanism of the dexamethasone effect remains to be investigated.