Introduction:

Obesity is considered a risk factor for developing insulin resistance. The increase in adipose tissue has been related to the increase in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which together with fatty acids are responsible, at least in part, for the development of insulin resistance, and this in turn facilitates the development of T2 diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2).

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to perform and characterize an in vitro model of obesity using high concentrations of glucose and insulin on an adipocyte cell line.

Methods:

A cell hypertrophy model was induced by stimulating mature adipocytes with a concentration of glucose (450 mg/dL) and insulin (106 pmol/L) (HGHI model). The cell viability, cell diameter, lipid mobilization and insulin signalling markers were evaluated.

Results:

After HGHI treatment, adipocytes show hypertrophy, increase in lipid accumulation, reduction of lipid breakdown, alteration of insulin signalling, a tendency to modify proteins of reticulum stress markers and, oxidative stress.

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate a new in vitro model that simulates, at least in part, obesity associated with insulin resistance being a useful tool to study the mechanisms of susceptibility to obesity and insulin resistance induced in vitro by different molecules.