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Effects of berberine and cinnamic acid on palmitic acid-induced intracellular triglyceride accumulation in NIT-1 pancreatic β cells

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects of berberine (BBR) and cinnamic acid (CA), the main active components in Jiaotai Pill (交泰丸, JTP), on palmitic acid (PA)-induced intracellular triglyceride (TG) accumulation in NIT-1 pancreatic β cells.

Methods

Cells were incubated in culture medium containing PA (0.25 mmol/L) for 24 h. Then treatments with BBR (10 μmol/L), CA (100 μmol/L) and the combination of BBR and CA (BBR+CA) were performed respectively. Intracellular lipid accumulation was assessed by Oil Red O staining and TG content was measured by colorimetric assay. The expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein and its downstream lipogenic and fatty acid oxidation genes, including fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACC), phosphorylation acetyl-coA carboxylase (pACC), carnitine acyl transferase 1 (CPT-1) and sterol regulating element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) were determined by Western blot or real time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

PA induced an obvious lipid accumulation and a significant increase in intracellular TG content in NIT-1 cells. PA also induced a remarkable decrease in AMPK protein expression and its downstream targets such as pACC and CPT-1. Meanwhile, AMPK downstream lipogenic genes including SREBP-1c mRNA, FAS and ACC protein expressions were increased. Treatments with BBR and BBR+CA, superior to CA, significantly reversed the above genes changes in NIT-1 pancreatic β cells. However, the synergistic effect of BBR and CA on intracellular TG content was not observed in the present study.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that in vitro, BBR and BBR+CA could inhibit PA-induced lipid accumulation by decreasing lipogenesis and increasing lipid oxidation in NIT-1 pancreatic β cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Li Zhao  (赵 莉), Shu-jun Jiang  (姜淑君), Fu-er Lu  (陆付耳), Li-jun Xu  (徐丽君), Xin Zou  (邹 欣), Kai-fu Wang  (王开富) & Hui Dong  (董 慧)

  2. Department of Nephrology, Wuhan Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Li Zhao  (赵 莉)

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  1. Li Zhao  (赵 莉)
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  2. Shu-jun Jiang  (姜淑君)
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  3. Fu-er Lu  (陆付耳)
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  5. Xin Zou  (邹 欣)
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Correspondence to Hui Dong  (董 慧).

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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81373871 and 81273683)

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Zhao, L., Jiang, Sj., Lu, Fe. et al. Effects of berberine and cinnamic acid on palmitic acid-induced intracellular triglyceride accumulation in NIT-1 pancreatic β cells. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 22, 496–502 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-014-1986-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-014-1986-0

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