title: Cinnamon extract regulates glucose transporter and insulin-signaling gene expression in mouse adipocytes.
abstract: Cinnamon extracts (CE) are reported to have beneficial effects on people with normal and impaired glucose tolerance, the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance. However, clinical results are controversial. Molecular characterization of CE effects is limited. This study investigated the effects of CE on gene expression in cultured mouse adipocytes. Water-soluble CE was prepared from ground cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to investigate CE effects on the expression of genes coding for adipokines, glucose transporter (GLUT) family, and insulin-signaling components in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CE (100 μg/ml) increased GLUT1 mRNA levels 1.91±0.15, 4.39±0.78, and 6.98±2.18-fold of the control after 2-, 4-, and 16-h treatments, respectively. CE decreased the expression of further genes encoding insulin-signaling pathway proteins including GSK3B, IGF1R, IGF2R, and PIK3R1. This study indicates that CE regulates the expression of multiple genes in adipocytes and this regulation could contribute to the potential health benefits of CE.
authors.affiliation: Commodity Utilization Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA. Heping.Cao@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Heping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D054392:Adipokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D027424:Cinnamomum; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger