title: [Effects of berberine on expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha and glucokinase activity in mouse primary hepatocytes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) and the activity of key enzyme glucokinase (GK) in glucose metabolism, and further to investigate the possible mechanism of berberine in treating type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse primary hepatocytes were isolated by an improved single two-step perfusion method. The murine hepatocytes were cultured and incubated with berberine (0, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 micromol x L(-1)) and 1 mmol x L(-1) metformin for 24 h respectively. The mRNA expression of HNF4alpha were quantified by RT-PCR and the protein expression of HNF4alpha were quantified by Western-blot. And the activity of GK were detected with enzyme kinetics method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared with the negative control group, at a certain concentration range, the expression of HNF4alpha mRNA and protein and the activity of GK were promoted by berberine. Both of them reached the top at the concentration of 30 micromol x L(-1) (P<0.01). But the metformin made no difference with the negative control group on the expression of HNF4alpha and the activity of GK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that the effects of berberine on improving glucose metabolism can be mechanically associated with its up-regulating the HNF4a expression and inducing the activity of hepatic glucokinase.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Traditional & Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Qing
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: San-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Fu-Er
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005941:Glucokinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001599:Berberine; D005941:Glucokinase