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ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of rutin on the browning of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and the mechanism. MethodCell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to detect the effect of different concentration of rutin （3.125， 6.25， 12.5， 25， 50， 100， 200 μmol·L-1） on 3T3-L1 cell activity， and Western blot to examine the effect of rutin （12.5， 25， 50 μmol·L-1） on the expression of thermogenesis-associated proteins uncoupling protein 1 （UCP1）， PR domain containing 16 （PRDM16） and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α （PGC-1α） in adipocytes. After the optimal concentration of rutin was determined， the effect of rutin on lipid droplet formation in adipocytes was observed based on oil red O staining， and the expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1 （NRF1）， nuclear respiratory factor 2 （NRF2） and mitochondrial transcription factor A （TFAM）， which were the landmark proteins of mitochondrial biosynthesis， was detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group， 200 μmol·L-1 rutin inhibited 3T3-L1 cell activity （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， at the concentration of 12.5， 25， 50 μmol·L-1 rutin significantly promoted the expression of thermogenesis-associated proteins （UCP1， PRDM16， and PGC-1α） （P<0.01）， which was determined as the optimal concentration. Compared with the blank group， 50 μmol·L-1 rutin significantly increased the immunofluorescence intensity of mitochondrial UCP1 protein in 3T3-L1 cells （P<0.01） and the expression of the markers of mitochondrial biosynthesis （NRF1， NRF2， and TFAM） （P<0.01）. In addition， 50 μmol·L-1 rutin significantly inhibited lipid droplet formation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes （P<0.01）. ConclusionRutin inhibited lipid droplet deposition in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and increased the expression of thermogenesis-related proteins （UCP1， PRDM16， and PGC-1α） and markers of mitochondrial biosynthesis （NRF1， NRF2， and TFAM）， thereby inducing the browning of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This lays a basis for the development of drugs that safely regulate the browning of white cells.
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The incidence of diabetes has been on the rise as the result of lifestyle changes， especially the high-fat diet and reduced exercise. Thus， it has become a global public health problem and it is an urgent task to explore effective therapy. There has been an explosion of research on the relationship of transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） signaling pathways with diabetes complications and tumors， but the role of the pathways in the occurrence and progression of diabetes remains unclear. TGF-β signaling pathways can be activated by many factors， directly or indirectly leading to the apoptosis of islet β cells and insulin resistance （IR）， and thus they are expected to become new targets for the treatment of diabetes. TGF-β-related signaling pathways involve AMP-activated proteinkinase （AMPK）， protooncogene （c-Myc）， Ski-relatednovel protein N （SnoN）， Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 1 （Smurf1）， miR-335-5p， and other signaling molecules. They participate in the occurrence and development of IR， apoptosis of islet β cells， insulin secretion disorder， fibrosis of adipocytes， and metabolic disorder of adipocytes， and inhibit the browning of white adipose tissue， playing an important part in the pathological process of human diabetes. According to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， the pathogenesis of diabetes is the deficiency of Qi and Yin， and the late stage is characterized by the syndrome of Qi deficiency， and Yang deficiency and blood stasis， which should be treated according to the principle of replenishing Qi and nourishing Yin， warming Yang and activating blood. It has been found that the efficacy of some Chinese medicinals and compound prescriptions on diabetes is closely related to the TGF-β signaling pathways. This paper reviews TGF-β-associated signaling pathways， elucidating the roles of them in pathogenesis of diabetes， and analyzes the relationship of TGF-β-associated signaling pathways with the effect of compound Chinese medicine prescriptions against diabetes. This study is expected to lay a theoretical basis for the research on the treatment diabetes.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the medicinal effect of total flavonoids of mulberry leaves on regulating liver lipid metabolism disorder in diabetes mellitus type 2 （T2DM） rats， and the mechanism based on liver peroxidase proliferators activate receptors-α （PPAR-α） and carnitine palmityl transferase-1 （CPT-1） proteins. MethodTotal flavonoids of mulberry leaves were extracted and purified by ethanol extraction + macroporous resin purification and then identified. T2DM rat model was induced by high fat diet （HFD） + streptozocin（STZ）method. Rats with blood glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol·L-1 were divided into three administration groups with the high dose （300 mg·kg-1）， medium dose （150 mg·kg-1）， and low dose （75 mg·kg-1） of total flavonoids of mulberry leaves for 8 weeks， respectively， to observe the weight and blood glucose of the rats. The pathological changes of rat livers were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Biochemical method was used to detect the levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low density lipoprotein-cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol （HDL-C） of blood lipid metabolism in rats. The messenger ribonucleic acid （mRNA） and protein expressions of PPAR-α and CPT-1 were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot. ResultAfter 8 weeks of intervention of total flavonoids of mulberry leaves， compared with the control group， the food intake， liver index， and fasting blood glucose of rats in the model group increased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the food intake， fasting blood glucose， and liver index of rats in the administration groups decreased significantly （P<0.01）. The results of HE staining showed that the liver tissue structure of rats in the control group was complete and there was no obvious abnormality. The model group showed vacuolar degeneration and inflammatory infiltration of hepatocytes of rats. There was no obvious abnormality in the liver structure of rats in the administration groups. The results of blood lipid showed that compared with the control group， the levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C increased significantly （P<0.01）， but the level of HDL-C decreased significantly （P<0.01） in the model group. Compared with the model group， the levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C decreased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）， whereas the level of HDL-C increased significantly （P<0.01） in the administration groups. The results of Real-time PCR showed that compared with the control group， the mRNA expression of PPAR-α and CPT-1 of rats in the model group decreased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the mRNA expressions of PPAR-α and CPT-1 of rats in the high-dose group increased significantly （P<0.01）. The results of Western blot showed that compared with the control group， the protein expressions of PPAR-α and CPT-1 of rats in the model group decreased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the protein expressions of PPAR-α and CPT-1 of rats in the high-dose group increased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionTotal flavonoids of mulberry leaves can effectively reduce blood glucose and improve liver lipid metabolism disorder in T2DM rats. The total flavonoids of mulberry leaves could regulate lipid metabolism and play a hypoglycemic role by activating and regulating PPAR-α and CPT-1 proteins and promoting oxidative decomposition of fatty acids.
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As the main medicinal powder for drawing out pus and removing necrotic tissue in external therapies of traditional Chinese surgery, Sheng Powder has made great contributions to the treatment of inflammatory wounds and has the unique bactericidal and decay-discharging function that can not be replaced by antibiotics. However, Sheng Powder has toxicity because it contains mercury. So far, there is no clinical research on the standards of dose and usage of Sheng Powder and there is a lack of objective and quantitative criteria for operating standards and monitoring of toxicity and side effects. Therefore, the authors choose Jiuyi Powder, one of the most commonly used Sheng Powder, to evaluate the safety of its external use, and form a standardization program for clinical implementation.
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Objective To study the effects and the mechanism of the ethanol extract of Blueberry(BE) on relaxation vascular endothelium or smooth muscle.Methods To use rat aorta as the specimen,to observe the effects of BE on induced relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta.and approach the mechanism on vascular endothelium or smooth muscle.Results BE induced relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted(1.0×10~(-5)mol·L~(-1) aorta in a dose-dependent way(P<0.01),which was disappeared by removal of functional endothelium(P<0.01).Pretreatment of the aortic tissues with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME),methylene blue,or 1H[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[4,3_a]-quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) inhibited the vascular relaxation induced by BE(P<0.01).BE-induced vascular relaxations were also markedly attenuated by addition of verapamil or diltiazem,while the relaxant effect of BE was not blocked by pretreatment with indomethacine,glibenclamide,tetraethylammonium(TEA),atropine,propranolol(P<0.01).Conclusion These results suggest that BE dilates vascular smooth muscle via endothelium-dependent nitricoxide-cGMP signaling pathway,possible involvement of L-type Ca~(2+) channel.