Insulin down-regulates cardioprotective SUR2A in the heart-derived H9c2 cells: A possible explanation for some adverse effects of insulin therapy.

Some recent studies associated insulin therapy with negative cardiovascular events and shorter lifespan. SUR2A, a K channel subunit, regulate cardioprotection and cardiac ageing. Here, we have tested whether glucose and insulin regulate expression of SUR2A/K channel subunits and resistance to metabolic stress in heart H9c2 cells.