[Effects of berberine on cell proliferation, peroxisome proliferation activated receptor gamma, CAAT/enhancer binding protein mRNA and protein expression in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of berberine (BER) on the proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes. METHODS: The proliferation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes was detected by XTT method. Lipid droplets accumulated in the cytoplasm of adipocytes in the differentiating process were observed by oil red O staining and quantified by colorimetry. The expressions of peroxisome proliferation activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), CAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) mRNA and protein were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting respectively. RESULTS: Intervention with BER in concentration below 10 micromol/L for 24 h showed insignificant effect on the proliferation of adipocytes, as compared with that in the control group (P > 0.05); but that in concentrations 20, 40 and 80 micromol/L revealed significant suppressive effect; that in different concentrations acting for 48 h and 72 h could affect the proliferation and the effect displayed a dose-dependent manner, i. e. the higher the concentration of BER, the more apparent the suppression, showing significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P <0.05 or P <0.01). The pre-adipocyte treated with 10 micromol/L BER showed that the lipid droplets in the cytoplasm significantly lessened, so did the expression of differentiation related factor PPAR gamma mRNA as well as the expressions of C/EBPalpha mRNA and protein, as compared with those in the blank control group and the group intervened with rosiglitazone, the difference was significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: BER can suppress the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, reduce the accumulation of lipid drops in the adipocyte differentiating process, which may be associated with its effects in decreasing the expressions of adipocyte differentiation related gene PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha mRNA and protein. The study provides a basis for applying BER on the prevention and treatment of such metabolic related diseases as obesity.

[Pollen Typhae total flavones inhibit expression of interleukin-6 in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells cultured with palmitate].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Pollen Typhae total flavones (PTF) on expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA and protein secretion in C2C12 cell strain of skeletal muscle cells cultured with palmitate, and to explore the mechanism of PTF in relieving insulin resistance (IR). METHODS: The IR of C2C12 cells was induced by co-culturing with palmitate. The C2C12 cells were divided into normal control group, untreated group, PDTC (a nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitor) treated group, rosiglitazone (ROS)-treated group, ROS+ PDTC-treated group, PTF-treated group and PTF+PDTC-treated group. Sixteen hours after culture, the transportation rate of glucose was observed by (3)H-deoxyglucose uptake method; IL-6 mRNA expression in C2C12 cells was assayed by real time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), and level of IL-6 protein secretion in culture supernatant was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the transportation rate of glucose of cells in untreated group was decreased 30.43% after 16-hour palmitate culture, and was increased 32.39% in the PTF-treated group. Compared with the untreated group, the levels of IL-6 mRNA expression in cells and IL-6 protein secretion in supernatant were significantly decreased in the PTF-treated group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-6 mRNA expression in cells and IL-6 protein secretion in supernatant were increased in PTF+PDTC-treated group as compared with PFT-treated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PTF can inhibit the IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 protein secretion via nuclear factor-kappaB pathway in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells, which may be one of its mechanisms in relieving inflammation conditions and insulin resistance in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.

[Effects of Yiqi Sanju Formula on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of Yiqi Sanju Formula (YQSJF), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Sixty-seven patients diagnosed with NAFLD were randomly divided into two groups: YQSJF-treated group (39 cases) and placebo group (28 cases). The NAFLD patients in the two groups were treated with YQSJF and placebo respectively for 3 months. Clinical symptoms, the CT ratio of liver-spleen, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) and the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the clinical symptoms were improved and the levels of BMI, waist circumference, HOMA2-IR, ALT, AST, TG and TC were decreased significantly in the YQSJF-treated group (P<0.05). The CT ratio of liver-spleen in the YQSJF-treated group was increased significantly as compared with the placebo group (P<0.01).