Interventions that recapitulate causes of insulin resistance in humans, including hyperinsulinemia (chronic incubation with insulin, CI), chronic inflammation (TNF-α) and Cushing’s syndrome/inflammatory steroids (dexamethasone, DEX) have been used to model insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Here, TNF is linked to Cushing syndrome due to macronodular adrenal hyperplasia.