title: Akt2-Dependent Beneficial Effect of Galanin on Insulin-Induced Glucose Uptake in Adipocytes of Diabetic Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glucose uptake occurs via the activation of an insulin-signaling cascade, resulting in the translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane of adipocytes and myocytes. Recent research found that galanin could boost insulin-induced glucose uptake. This study aimed to explore whether activation of Akt2 mediates the beneficial effects of galanin on insulin-induced glucose uptake in the adipocytes of diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experiment, insulin, galanin and MK-2206, an Akt inhibitor, were injected individually or in combination into diabetic rats once a day for ten days. Then, glucose uptake and pAkt2 and its downstream proteins were examined in adipocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of galanin significantly enhanced insulin-induced 2-Deoxy-D-[3H]glucose uptake; GLUT4 and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 contents in plasma membranes; and pAkt2Thr308/Ser473 and Akt2 mRNA expression levels in adipocytes. In addition, Akt2 downstream proteins including phosphorylated AS160 were increased, but the levels of phosphorylated forkhead box O1 and glycogen synthase kinase-3β were reduced. Treatment with MK-2206 may block the beneficial effects of galanin on these insulin-induced events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that phosphorylation of Akt2 mediates the beneficial effects of galanin on insulin-induced glucose uptake in the adipocytes of diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhenwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Rresearch Institute of Gerontology, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.|Department of Physiology, School of Hanlin, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Taizhou, China.
authors.forename: Penghua
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Rresearch Institute of Gerontology, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Key Rresearch Institute of Gerontology, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Key Rresearch Institute of Gerontology, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Mingyi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou, China.|Key Rresearch Institute of Gerontology, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bo
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019004:Galanin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000071161:Forkhead Box Protein O1
chemical_list: D019004:Galanin; D005947:Glucose; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; D007328:Insulin; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C548887:MK 2206; C495694:Slc2a4 protein, rat; C074639:Foxo1 protein, rat; D000071161:Forkhead Box Protein O1; C494923:Akt2 protein, rat
keywords: AS160; FoxO1; GLUT4; GSK-3β; VAMP2