[Effects of berberine on expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha and glucokinase activity in mouse primary hepatocytes].
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.
Yan
Zhong-Qing
ZQ
Institute of Integrative Traditional & Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Leng
San-Hua
SH
Lu
Fu-Er
FE
Lu
Xiao-Hong
XH
Dong
Hui
H
Gao
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
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*
D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001599:Berberine; D005941:Glucokinase