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Lupinus albus Conglutin Gamma Modifies the Gene Expressions of Enzymes Involved in Glucose Hepatic Production In Vivo

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Abstract

Lupinus albus seeds contain conglutin gamma (Cγ) protein, which exerts a hypoglycemic effect and positively modifies proteins involved in glucose homeostasis. Cγ could potentially be used to manage patients with impaired glucose metabolism, but there remains a need to evaluate its effects on hepatic glucose production. The present study aimed to analyze G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions in two experimental animal models of impaired glucose metabolism. We also evaluated hepatic and renal tissue integrity following Cγ treatment. To generate an insulin resistance model, male Wistar rats were provided 30% sucrose solution ad libitum for 20 weeks. To generate a type 2 diabetes model (STZ), five-day-old rats were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (150 mg/kg). Each animal model was randomized into three subgroups that received the following oral treatments daily for one week: 0.9% w/v NaCl (vehicle; IR-Ctrl and STZ-Ctrl); metformin 300 mg/kg (IR-Met and STZ-Met); and Cγ 150 mg/kg (IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ). Biochemical parameters were assessed pre- and post-treatment using colorimetric or enzymatic methods. We also performed histological analysis of hepatic and renal tissue. G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions were quantified using real-time PCR. No histological changes were observed in any group. Post-treatment G6pc gene expression was decreased in the IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ groups. Post-treatment Fbp1 and Pck1 gene expressions were reduced in the IR-Cγ group but increased in STZ-Cγ animals. Overall, these findings suggest that Cγ is involved in reducing hepatic glucose production, mainly through G6pc inhibition in impaired glucose metabolism disorders.

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Abbreviations

Cγ:

Gamma conglutin

Fbp1 :

Fructose-bisphosphatase 1 gene

G6pc :

Glucose-6-phosphatase gene

IR:

Insulin resistance

Pck1 :

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 gene

STZ:

Streptozotocin

T2D:

Type 2 diabetes

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Ing. Rogelio Troyo-Sanromán for statistical advice and Dr. van Santen for the lupin seeds. This study was supported by a CONACyT grant (number 60283) given to CMGD. AEGS and BVG received fellowships from CONACyT (fellowship numbers 204929 and 225001, respectively). Also, partial financial support was received from University of Guadalajara REC/747/2016.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Enfermedades Crónico-Degenerativas, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, C.U.C.S, Universidad de Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada 950, Col. Independencia C.P, 44350, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México

    Ana E. González-Santiago, Belinda Vargas-Guerrero, José A. Domínguez-Rosales & Carmen M. Gurrola-Díaz

  2. Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, C.U.C.B.A, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México

    Pedro M. García-López

  3. Centro de Productos Bióticos, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Yautepec, Morelos, México

    Alma L. Martínez-Ayala

Authors
  1. Ana E. González-Santiago
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  2. Belinda Vargas-Guerrero
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  3. Pedro M. García-López
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  4. Alma L. Martínez-Ayala
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  5. José A. Domínguez-Rosales
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  6. Carmen M. Gurrola-Díaz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmen M. Gurrola-Díaz.

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The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest or financial disclosures.

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Ana E. González- Santiago and Belinda Vargas-Guerrero contributed equally to this work.

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González-Santiago, A.E., Vargas-Guerrero, B., García-López, P.M. et al. Lupinus albus Conglutin Gamma Modifies the Gene Expressions of Enzymes Involved in Glucose Hepatic Production In Vivo . Plant Foods Hum Nutr 72, 134–140 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-016-0597-7

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