Puerarin protects pancreatic β-cell survival via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Pancreatic β-cell loss because of apoptosis is the major cause of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and late stage T2D. Puerarin possesses anti-diabetic properties; whether it acts directly on pancreatic β-cell is not clear. This study was designed to investigate the effects of puerarin on pancreatic β-cell survival and function. Diabetes was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by a single peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Pancreatic β-cell survival and function were assessed in diabetic mice by measuring β-cell apoptosis, β-cell mass, pancreatic insulin content, and glucose tolerance, and in cultured islets and clonial MIN6 β-cells by measuring β-cell viability and apoptosis and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. We found that pre-treatment with puerarin decreased the incidence of STZ-induced diabetes. Puerarin increased pancreatic β-cell mass via β-cell apoptosis inhibition in diabetic mice, and increased serum insulin, whereas it decreased blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance. In cultured islets and MIN6 cells, puerarin protected β-cell from cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced apoptosis and restored the impaired capacity of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Puerarin protection of β-cell survival involved the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway. In conclusion, puerarin protects pancreatic β-cell function and survival via direct effects on β-cells, and its protection of β-cell survival is mediated by the PI3K/Akt pathway. As a safe natural plant extraction, puerarin might serve as a preventive and/or therapeutic approach for diabetes.
Xiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, ChinaXiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Zhipeng
Z
Li
Xiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Zhaoshui
Z
Shangguan
Xiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Yijie
Y
Liu
Xiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Jihua
J
Wang
Xiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, ChinaXiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Xuejun
X
Li
Xiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, ChinaXiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, China liusuhuan@gmail.com xmyangshuyu@126.com.
Shuyu
S
Yang
Xiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, ChinaXiamen Diabetes InstituteCentral LaboratoryDivision of GastroenterologyDivision of Endocrinology and DiabetesThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, ChinaBeijing University of Chinese Medicine11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100029, China liusuhuan@gmail.com xmyangshuyu@126.com.
Suhuan
S
Liu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D007529:Isoflavones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; C033607:puerarin
PI3K/Akt; apoptosis; diabetes; pancreatic β-cell; puerarin