Echinacea purpurea root extract enhances the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells

Echinacea purpurea has been shown to have anti-diabetic activities; for example, it activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and increases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Adipogenesis has been used to study the insulin signaling pathway and to screen anti-diabetic compounds. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of an ethanol extract of E. purpurea (EEEP) and its constituents on the insulin-induced adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. When adipocyte differentiation was induced with insulin plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and dexamethasone, the accumulation of lipid droplets and the cellular triglyceride content were significantly increased by EEEP. The expressions of PPARγ and C/EBPα in adipocytes treated with EEEP were gradually increased as compared with control cells. Fat accumulation and triglyceride content of adipocytes treated with dodeca-2(E),4(E)-dienoic acid isobutylamide were significantly increased as compared with control cells. The expressions of PPARγ and C/EBPα in adipocytes treated with dodeca-2(E),4(E)-dienoic acid isobutylamide were significantly higher than in control cells. These results suggest EEEP promotes the adipogenesis that is partially induced by insulin and that dodeca-2(E),4(E)-dienoic acid isobutylamide appears to be responsible for EEEP-enhanced adipocyte differentiation.     

Berberine activates GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

It has recently been known that berberine, an alkaloid of medicinal plants, has anti-hyperglycemic effects. To explore the mechanism underlying this effect, we used 3T3-L1 adipocytes for analyzing the signaling pathways that contribute to glucose transport. Treatment of berberine to 3T3-L1 adipocytes for 6 h enhanced basal glucose uptake both in normal and in insulin-resistant state, but the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was not augmented significantly. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) by wortmannin did not affect the berberine effect on basal glucose uptake. Berberine did not augment tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1. Further, berberine had no effect on the activity of the insulin-sensitive downstream kinase, atypical protein kinase C (PKCzeta/lambda). However, interestingly, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), which have been known to be responsible for the expression of glucose transporter (GLUT)1, were significantly activated in berberine-treated 3T3-L1 cells. As expected, the level of GLUT1 protein was increased both in normal and insulin-resistant cells in response to berberine. But berberine affected the expression of GLUT4 neither in normal nor in insulin-resistant cells. In addition, berberine treatment increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in 3T3-L1 cells, which has been reported to be associated with GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake. Together, we concluded that berberine increases glucose transport activity of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by enhancing GLUT1 expression and also stimulates the GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake by activating GLUT1, a result of AMPK stimulation.     

Cirsium japonicum flavones enhance adipocyte differentiation and glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells

Cirsium japonicum flavones have been demonstrated to possess anti-diabetic effects in diabetic rats, but the functional mechanism remains unknown. The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) plays an important role in glucose and lipid homeostasis. In this study, we report the effects of Cirsium japonicum flavones (pectolinarin and 5,7-dihydroxy-6,4-dimethoxy flavone) on PPARγ activation, adipocyte differentiation, and glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells. Reporter gene assays and Oil Red O staining showed that Cirsium japonicum flavones induced PPARγ activation and enhanced adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Cirsium japonicum flavones increased the expression of PPARγ target genes, such as adiponectin and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and enhanced the translocation of intracellular GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. In mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, Cirsium japonicum flavones significantly enhanced the basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. The flavones-induced effects in 3T3-L1 cells were abolished by the PPARγ antagonist, GW9662, and by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, wortmannin. This study suggests that Cirsium japonicum flavones promote adipocyte differentiation and glucose uptake by inducing PPARγ activation and then modulating the insulin signaling pathway in some way, which could benefit diabetes patients.     

Troglitazone prevents and reverses dexamethasone induced insulin resistance on glycogen synthesis in 3T3 adipocytes

Troglitazone lowers blood glucose levels in Type II diabetic patients. To evaluate the insulin sensitizing action of troglitazone on glycogen synthesis we have used dexamethasone-treated 3T3 adipocytes as an in vitro model. Differentiated 3T3 adipocytes were incubated with 100 nM dexamethasone for 6 days. Troglitazone (1.0 microM) or metformin (1.0 mM) with or without 200 nM insulin was added during the last 4 days. At the end, insulin (100 nM) stimulated glycogen synthesis was determined using (14)C-glucose. Dexamethasone caused a 50% reduction in glycogen synthesis. Troglitazone caused an approximately 3 fold increase in glycogen synthesis from 43.9+/-3.4 to 120+/-16.2 nmols h(-1). Under identical conditions metformin had no significant effect. When cells were incubated with troglitazone and dexamethasone simultaneously for 6 days, troglitazone but not metformin completely prevented dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance. RU 486 (1.0 microM) also completely prevented the insulin resistance. Chronic incubation with dexamethasone and insulin resulted in a 73% reduction in glycogen synthesis. In these adipocytes, troglitazone was partially active with glycogen synthesis rising from 23.1+/-3.0 to 44.4+/-4.5 nmol h(-1), P<0.01 while metformin was inactive. Troglitazone stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake by 2 - 3 fold in dexamethasone-treated adipocytes. Metformin also increased glucose uptake significantly. Troglitazone did not affect insulin binding while a 2 fold increase was observed in normal adipocytes where it exhibited a modest effect. Since the effect of troglitazone was greater in dexamethasone-treated adipocytes, troglitazone is likely to act by preventing dexamethasone-induced alterations which may include (i) binding to glucocorticoid receptor and (ii) effect on glucose uptake. These data demonstrate the direct insulin sensitizing action of troglitazone on glycogen synthesis and suggest a pharmacological profile different from metformin.     

Effects of inorganic HgCl2 on adipogenesis.

Mercury is a common pollutant that alters glucose metabolism in adipocytes; however, the effect of HgCl2 on differentiating adipocytes and their subsequent metabolic function is not well understood. Two adipocyte models, the 3T3-L1 and C3H10T1/2 (10T1/2) cell lines, were differentiated in the presence of HgCl2. To assess the amount of differentiation in a population, markers of differentiation (i.e., PPARgamma and GLUT 4 expression and lipid accumulation) and functions of adipocytes (i.e., glucose transport and insulin-induced glucose transport) were measured. HgCl2 exposure significantly decreased the number of phenotypic adipocytes and PPARgamma expression in both 3T3-L1 and 10T1/2 cells without effects on cell viability. GLUT 4 was significantly reduced by HgCl2 treatment in 10T1/2 but not 3T3-L1 cells. Exposure to HgCl2 during differentiation increased basal glucose uptake in a dose-dependent manner (up to 2.5-fold) and decreased insulin-induced glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In contrast, HgCl2 had little effect on basal or insulin-induced glucose uptake in 10T1/2 cells, possibly due to their lower insulin responsiveness. We examined the effect of HgCl2 exposure on signaling event involved in differentiation of adipocytes and cellular stress, namely, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK, respectively. HgCl2 exposure had no effect on ERK1/2 phosphorylation in either cell line, increased JNK phosphorylation in the 10T1/2, and had no effect on JNK phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 cells. These data indicate HgCl2 exposure can inhibit the differentiation of fibroblasts into adipocytes as well as influence signaling events and the subsequent metabolic activity of differentiated adipocytes.     

Bis(alpha-furancarboxylato)oxovanadium(IV) prevents and improves dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Previous studies showed that bis(alpha-furancarboxylato)oxovanadium(IV) (BFOV), an orally active anti-diabetic organic vanadium complex, could improve insulin resistance in animals with type 2 diabetes. The present study has been carried out to evaluate the effects of BFOV on insulin-resistant glucose metabolism using dexamethasone-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes as an in-vitro model of insulin resistance. The results showed that BFOV, similar to vanadyl sulfate and rosiglitazone, caused a concentration-dependent increase in glucose consumption by insulin-resistant adipocytes. Moreover, BFOV enhanced the action of insulin and completely prevented the development of insulin resistance induced by dexamethasone, leading to glucose consumption equal to that by normal cells. In addition, dexamethasone reduced the mRNA expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, while BFOV normalized the expression of IRS-1 and GLUT4. These findings suggest that BFOV prevents and improves dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by enhancing expression of IRS-1 and GLUT4 mRNA.     

Vanadium and insulin increase adiponectin production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Both adiponectin, an adipokine secreted by adipocytes, and vanadium compounds, have been extensively shown to enhance insulin sensitivity in vivo and in vitro. In this study we examined whether insulin and vanadyl sulfate (VS) affected adiponectin release and cell content from 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and whether they acted through a similar signaling pathway. Adiponectin cell content, but not release, consistently increased in cells treated with insulin (100 nM) and VS (10 and 50 microM) after 24 h. On the other hand, VS-induced adiponectin release only occurred after 4 days of incubation. The protein kinase B (PKB) inhibitor, NL-71-101, decreased both insulin and VS-induced adiponectin cell content, while neither wortmannin nor LY 294002, inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), attenuated insulin or VS-induced adiponectin cell content. Furthermore, VS-induced adiponectin accumulation occurred in the presence of AGL2263, an insulin receptor (IR) inhibitor. These studies provide the first evidence that vanadium could exert its insulin sensitizing effects through the stimulation of adiponectin through a PKB-dependent transduction pathway.     

Cyanidin-3-rutinoside increases glucose uptake by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

In this study, the effect of cyanidin-3-rutinoside (C3R) on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocytes was studied. C3R significantly increased glucose uptake, which was associated with enhanced plasma membrane glucose transporter type 4 (PM-GLUT4) expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The potentiating effect of C3R on glucose uptake and PM-GLUT4 expression was related to enhanced phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and Akt, as well as augmented activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) in the insulin signaling pathway. C3R induced glucose uptake was inhibited only by the PI3K inhibitor, but not by an AMPK inhibitor in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Therefore, C3R likely up-regulates glucose uptake and PM-GLUT4 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by activating the PI3K/Akt pathways.     

ATGL/HSL角度下解析Neu-p11改善胰岛素抵抗作用机制

目的探讨脂肪组织甘油三酯酶(adipose triglyceridelipase,ATGL)及激素敏感性脂肪酶(hormone-sensitive lipase,HSL)在褪黑素非选择性受体激动剂Neu-p11改善高糖高胰岛素(high glucose and insulin,HGI)诱导的3T3-L1脂肪细胞胰岛素抵抗(insulin resistance,IR)中的作用及机制。方法培养3T3-L1脂肪细胞,HGI诱导IR模型。以葡萄糖消耗量及细胞内甘油三酯(triglyceride,TG)定量测定作为检测指标,Western blot检测蛋白水平的表达情况。结果 HGI孵育减少脂肪细胞葡萄糖摄取,促进细胞内TG积聚,同时伴有ATGL及HSL的蛋白表达下调。Neu-p11干预逆转了HGI对脂肪细胞的作用效应,而MT2竞争性拮抗剂luzindole却拮抗了Neu-p11的上述效应。结论 Neu-p11以MT2受体依赖性方式抑制IR脂肪细胞TG沉积,可能与其上调AT-GL、HSL蛋白的表达,促进TG水解相关。     

Artepillin C, as a PPARγ ligand, enhances adipocyte differentiation and glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells

The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ plays an important role in adipocyte differentiation. Its ligands, including thiazolidinediones, improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. We investigated the effects of artepillin C, an ingredient of Baccharis dracunculifolia, on adipogenesis and glucose uptake using 3T3-L1 cells. In PPARγ ligand-binding assays, artepillin C exhibited binding affinity toward PPARγ. Artepillin C dose-dependently enhanced adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. As a result of the artepillin C-induced adipocyte differentiation, the gene expression of PPARγ and its target genes, such as aP2, adiponectin and glucose transporter (GLUT) 4, was increased. These increases were abolished by cotreatment with GW9662, a PPARγ antagonist. In mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, artepillin C significantly enhanced the basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. These effects were decreased by cotreatment with a PI3K inhibitor. Although artepillin C had no effects on the insulin signaling cascade, artepillin C enhanced the expression and plasma membrane translocation of GLUT1 and GLUT4 in mature adipocytes. In conclusion, these findings suggest that artepillin C promotes adipocyte differentiation and glucose uptake in part by direct binding to PPARγ, which could be the basis of the pharmacological benefits of green propolis intake in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.     

Antidiabetic Activity of Nigella sativa. Seed Extract in Cultured Pancreatic β-cells,Skeletal Muscle Cells,and Adipocytes

Abstract

The seeds of Nigella sativa. L. (NS), a plant of the Runanculaceae family, are used in traditional medicine in North Africa and the Middle East for the treatment of diabetes. Despite widespread use and a number of scientific studies, the target tissues and cellular mechanisms of action of this plant product are not well understood. This study evaluated the effects of NS seed crude ethanol extract on insulin secretion in INS832/13 and β TC-tet lines of pancreatic β-cells and on glucose disposal by C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. An 18-h treatment with NS amplified glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by more than 35% without affecting sensitivity to glucose. NS treatment also accelerated β-cell proliferation. An 18-h treatment with NS increased basal glucose uptake by 55% (equivalent to approximately two-fold the effect of 100 nM insulin) in muscle cells and approximately by 400% (equal to the effect of 100 nM insulin) in adipocytes; this effect was perfectly additive to that of insulin in adipocytes. Finally, NS treatment of pre-adipocytes undergoing differentiation accelerated triglyceride accumulation comparably with treatment with 10 μ M rosiglitazone. It is concluded that the well-documented in vivo. antihyperglycemic effects of NS seed extract are attributable to a combination of therapeutically relevant insulinotropic and insulin-like properties.     

小檗碱与梓醇及其配伍对胰岛素抵抗3T3-L1脂肪细胞Glut-4、IRS-1、IRS-1 Ser307磷酸化蛋白表达的影响

目的：观察梓醇与小檗碱及其配伍对胰岛素抵抗3T3-L1脂肪细胞葡萄糖消耗及这一过程中葡萄糖转运子-4（Glut-4）、胰岛素受体底物-1（IRS-1）和胰岛素受体底物-1丝氨酸307（IRS-1Ser307）磷酸化蛋白表达的影响。方法：采用高糖联合高胰岛素诱导3T3-L1脂肪细胞产生胰岛素抵抗，分别给予小檗碱、梓醇、小檗碱＋梓醇、盐酸罗格列酮进行干预，以葡萄糖氧化酶法检测培养液中葡萄糖消耗量，以WesternBlot法检测蛋白的表达。结果：与模型组相比，小檗碱能增加培养液中葡萄糖的消耗（P〈0．01），但对Glut，4蛋白的表达无影响；梓醇、小檗碱＋梓醇均能显著增加培养液中葡萄糖的消耗（P〈0．01），并使细胞中Glut-4蛋白的表达增强（P〈0．05），且小檗碱＋梓醇组的效应优于梓醇组及小檗碱组；与模型组相比，小檗碱与梓醇及其配伍对IRS-1的表达没有显著性影响，但能降低IRS-1 Ser307磷酸化蛋白表达。结论：小檗碱、梓醇及其配伍能改善胰岛素抵抗3T3-L1脂肪细胞的胰岛素敏感性，其作用机制与罗格列酮不同。     

The potential insulin sensitizing and glucose lowering effects of a novel indole derivative in vitro and in vivo.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) such as rosiglitazone are antidiabetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists. PPARgamma agents improve diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and enhancing the differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes. The present study aimed to identify if 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-indoleacetitic acid (GY3), a newly synthesized indole compound, could enhance adipocytes differentiation and insulin sensitivity. The results showed that both GY3 and rosiglitazone significantly increased the lipid accumulating of 3T3-L1 adipocytes induced by isobutylmethylxanthine, dexamethasone and insulin mixture, but GY3 (not rosiglitazone) failed to increase the lipid accumulation when induced by insulin alone. In addition, GY3- or rosiglitaozne-induced protein expression of GLUT4 and adiponectin was determined by Western blot analysis. GY3 activated PPARalpha weakly but did not affect PPARgamma, while rosiglitazone activated PPARgamma significantly, suggesting different mechanisms between GY3 and rosiglitazone on adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, both GY3 and rosiglitazone enhanced the adiponectin and insulin pathway proteins expression and adiponectin secretion in mature adipocytes, but only GY3 not rosiglitazone elevated gene expression of leptin and resistin. Both GY3 and rosiglitazone enhanced glucose consumption in HepG2 cells especially in the presence of insulin. In the in vivo study, GY3 decreased serum glucose and insulin in db/db mice, indicating the insulin sensitizing effect might contribute to its antidiabetic mechanism. Altogether, these results suggest that GY3 could improve insulin resistance and lower glucose level, GY3 and its derivatives might be developed as a substitution therapy for diseases with insulin resistance.     

吡格列酮改善氧化应激导致的脂肪细胞胰岛素抵抗

目的:观察吡格列酮对氧化应激导致的脂肪细胞胰岛素抵抗的作用,初步探讨其机制。方法:葡萄糖氧化酶(GO)作用培养于高糖DMEM的3T3-L1细胞产生H2O212小时后观察胰岛素刺激的葡萄糖摄取(ISGU)和胰岛素信号通路主要分子的活化状态以及吡格列酮的影响。结果:GO导致的氧化应激抑制ISGU和IRS-1酪氨酸及PKB磷酸化,其机制可能与氧化应激导致IRS-1丝氨酸307磷酸化有关;氧化应激的作用可被吡格列酮部分逆转。结论:吡格列酮可以减轻氧化应激导致的脂肪细胞胰岛素抵抗,改善胰岛素信号传导。     

Physiological and therapeutic roles of PACAP in glucose metabolism and diabetes

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a ubiquitous neuropeptide in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Previously we reported that PACAP38 is localized in pancreatic islets and serves as an endogenous amplifier of glucose-induced insulin secretion. PACAP activates Gs-cAMP system, stimulates voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, and increases cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration in beta-cells. On the other hand, PAC1 receptor is expressed in adipocytes. PACAP enhances insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in an adipocyte cell-line, 3T3-L1 cells. PACAP does not alter the tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor and IRS-1, but increases the activity of PI-3 kinase, a distal site of insulin signaling. PACAP also promotes differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells from fibroblasts to adipocytes. In GK rats, an animal model of type 2 diabetes, daily i.p. injection of PACAP38 (6 pmol/kg) from the age of 3 weeks prevents development of hyperglycemia between 3 to 8 weeks. These results demonstrate that PACAP enhances glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in islets, enhances insulin action inadipocytes, and prevents hyperglycemia in diabetic animals. This finding presents a possible therapeutic use of PACAP in the treatment of diabetes.     

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses the production of adipocytokines, leptin, tumor necrosis factor -alpha and resistin, during differentiation to adipocytes in 3T3-L1 cells

We previously reported that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) suppresses 3T3-L1 differentiation to adipocytes through the inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) alpha, fatty acid synthase (Fas) and adipocytes-specific fatty acid binding protein 2 (aP2) expressions (Juman et al., Biol. Pharm. Bull., 33, 1484-1488 (2010)). In the present study, we confirmed that CAPE had inhibitory effects on increased glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity and an increased insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1). Our data show that treatment with 50 μM CAPE significantly reduced the levels of leptin (p<0.05), resistin (p<0.05) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (p<0.05) which are known to aid adipocytokines production in adipocytes. In 3T3-L1 cells, treatment of CAPE decreased the triglyceride deposition similar to resveratrol, which is known to have an inhibitory effect on 3T3-L1 differentiation to adipocytes. In conclusion, we found that CAPE suppresses the production and secretion of adipocytokines from mature adipocytes in 3T3-L1 cells.     

Isoliquiritigenin impairs insulin signaling and adipocyte differentiation through the inhibition of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B oxidation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Isoliquritigenin (ISL) is an abundant dietary flavonoid with a chalcone structure, which is an important constituent in Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR). ISL exhibits anti-oxidant activity, and this activity has been shown to play a beneficial role in various health conditions. However, it is unclear whether the anti-oxidant activity of ISL affects insulin signaling pathway and lipid accumulation of adipocytes. We sought to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of ISL on insulin-stimulated adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. We investigated whether ISL attenuates insulin-induced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation, and whether ISL inhibits the lipid accumulation and the expression of adipogenic-genes during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. ISL blocked the ROS generation, suppressed the lipid accumulation and the expression of adipocyte-specific proteins, which are increased in response to insulin stimulation during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. We also investigated whether the anti-oxidant capacity of ISL is involved in regulating the molecular events of insulin-signaling cascade in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. ISL restores PTP1B activity by inhibiting PTP1B oxidation and IR/PI3K/AKT phosphorylation during the early stages of insulin-induced adipogenesis. Our findings show that the anti-oxidant capacity of ISL attenuated insulin IR/PI3K/AKT signaling through inhibition of PTP1B oxidation, and ultimately attenuated insulin-induced adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells.