Increase in insulin binding affinity by chloroquine in cultured rat hepatoma cells.

Chloroquine increased the binding of 125I-labeled insulin to rat hepatoma cells (R-Y121B) at 4 degrees C. The effect of chloroquine on insulin binding was amplified at 23 degrees C, and a large increase in cell-associated radioactivity was observed. Scatchard analysis showed that chloroquine increased the affinity of insulin for cells at both 4 degrees C and 23 degrees C, and that this increase eventually caused the accumulation of insulin internalized by cells at 23 degrees C.