OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ferulic acid, a natural compound, on pancreatic beta cell viability, Ca²⁺ channels, and insulin secretion. METHODS: We studied the effects of ferulic acid on rat insulinoma cell line viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide viability assay. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were also used to examine the action of ferulic acid on Ca²⁺ channels and insulin secretion, respectively. RESULTS: Ferulic acid did not affect cell viability during exposures up to 72 h. The electrophysiological study demonstrated that ferulic acid rapidly and concentration-dependently increased L-type Ca²⁺ channel current, shifting its activation curve in the hyperpolarizing direction with a decreased slope factor, while the voltage dependence of inactivation was not affected. On the other hand, ferulic acid have no effect on T-type Ca²⁺ channels. Furthermore, ferulic acid significantly increased insulin secretion, an effect inhibited by nifedipine and Ca²⁺-free extracellular fluid, confirming that ferulic acid-induced insulin secretion in these cells was mediated by augmenting Ca²⁺ influx through L-type Ca²⁺ channel. Our data also suggest that this may be a direct, nongenomic action. CONCLUSION This is the first electrophysiological demonstration that acute ferulic acid treatment could increase L-type Ca²⁺ channel current in pancreatic β cells by enhancing its voltage dependence of activation, leading to insulin secretion.
Rats ; Animals ; Insulin Secretion ; Insulin/pharmacology* ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/metabolism* ; Coumaric Acids/metabolism* ; Calcium/metabolism*

OBJECTIVESTo study the influence of insulin on IGF-I and IGFBP-I secretion of the human endometrial stromal cells.

METHODSLate proliferative phase endometrial stromal cells were isolated from endometrium tissues and then cultured for 24 h in Hams F-12 only as a control and in Hams F-12 with different concentrations of estradiol (E2) and insulin (INS) as treated groups. Simultaneously, the endometrial stromal cells from late secretory phase endometrium were cultured for 24 h in Hams F-12 only as a control and in Hams F-12 supplemented with different concentrations of progesterone (P) and insulin as treated groups. After 24 h of culturing, the mediums were collected for either IGF-I or IGFBP-I assays.

RESULTThe concentrations of IGF-I in medium from cultured endometrial stromal cells in the proliferative phase were 0.78 +/- 0.47 ng/ml in the hormone-free control group; 1.44 +/- 0.59 ng/ml and 1.39 +/- 0.33 ng/ml in 100 pg/ml E2 group and 20 microU/ml INS group, which was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). The IGF-I concentration in the 100 microU/ml INS group was 2.03 +/- 0.53 ng/ml, which was higher than that of the 20 micro U/ml INS group (P < 0.01). Levels of IGF-I in the 100 pg/ml E2 plus 20 microU/ml INS group was 2.18 +/- 0.36 ng/ml, which was significantly higher than that of the 20 microU/ml INS and 100 pg/ml E2 group (P < 0.01), but lower than that of the 100 pg/ml E2 plus 100 microU/ml INS group (3.42 +/- 0.75 ng/ml), P < 0.01. The concentration of IGFBP-I in medium from cultured endometrial stromal cells in the secretory phase was 2.50 +/- 1.39 ng/ml in the hormone-free control group and 5.44 +/- 2.09 ng/ml in the 10 pg/ml P group, which was significantly higher than that of the control (P < 0.01). IGFBP-I concentration in 20 microU/ml INS group was 0.16 +/- 0.58 ng/ml, which was lower compared with control, but higher compared with the 100 microU/ml INS group (P < 0.01). The level of IGFBP-I in the 10 ng/ml P plus 20 microU/ml INS group was 2.10 +/- 1.17 ng/ml, lower compared with the 10 ng/ml P group, but higher compared with the 10 pg/ml P plus 100 microU/ml INS group, P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin can stimulate basal (without hormone) and E2-stimulated IGF-I secretion in cultured stromal cells from human late proliferative endometrium in a dose-dependent manner. Insulin can suppress basal (without hormone) and P-stimulated IGFBP-I secretions in cultured stromal cells from human secretory endometrium in a dose-dependent manner.

Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endometrium ; cytology ; drug effects ; secretion ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 ; secretion ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; secretion ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; secretion

To investigate the effect of berberine on insulin secretion of NIT-1 cells stimulated by glucose and the possible molecular mechanism, we used radioimmunoassay, scintillation counting technique, enzymatic method and Western blotting to measure the effects of berberine on insulin secretion, glucose utilization, the activity of glucokinase (GK) and protein level of GK and GK regulation protein (GKRP). Compared with untreated group, insulin secretion level, glucose utilization, the activity and protein level of GK in NIT-1 cells stimulated by high concentration of glucose were increased significantly in berberine group (P < 0.05), while the protein level of GKRP in berberine group decreased markedly. In conclusion, berberine can promote insulin secretion of NIT-1 cells induced by high concentration of glucose. The possible molecular mechanism may be associated with berberine acting as a GK activator, improving glucose utilization, enhancing the activity and protein expression level of GK, as well as decreased the protein level of GKRP.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Animals ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Glucokinase ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; metabolism ; secretion ; Mice

OBJECTIVE[corrected] To characterize the insulinotropic action of hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide (HCNP) and analyze the role of type 3 muscarinic receptor (M(3)R) pathway in the action of HCNP.

METHODSINS-1 cells were incubated in routine RPMI 1640 medium (control group), RPMI 1640 supplemented with 50 pg/ml synthetic HCNP (HCNP group), or HCNP-containing medium with the addition of PMA 18 h prior to insulin release assay. The insulin levels in the medium was measured using radioimmunoassay following stimulation with different concentrations of glucose. Real-time quantitative PCR was used for detecting the gene expression of HCNP-pp, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and M(3)R in HCNP group and control group.

RESULTSAfter stimulation with different concentrations of glucose (5.6 and 16.7 mmol/L), HCNP group showed significantly higher insulin levels than the control and HCNP+ PMA groups. Compared with those in the control group, the mRNA levels of HCNP-pp, ChAT, and M(3)R were all lowered in HCNP group.

CONCLUSIONHCNP can promote insulin release in INS-1 cells by increasing ChAT activity and activating M(3)R, and this effect is inhibited by PMA.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Insulin ; secretion ; Neuropeptides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; metabolism

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; secretion ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; secretion ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) microcapsules in protecting rat islet cells in cryopreservation.

METHODPurified rat islet cells microencapsulated with APA and free islet cells were cryopreserved for one month and then thawed for culture in RPMI 1640 overnight. The morphology of the cells was observed and their function assessed by stimulated insulin release test.

RESULTAPA microcapsulation protected the fragile islets from freezing damage by increasing the recovery rate of the cells from 68.6%+/-2.9% to 94.7%+/-1.4% (P<0.05). After incubation with high glucose (16.7 mmol/L) solution, the insulin release from the encapsulated cells after cryopreservation significantly increased in comparison with that of the nonencapsulated cells (22.6+/-1.8 mU/L vs 11.7+/-1.5 mU/L, P<0.05). In high glucose solution containing theophylline, the calculated stimulation index of the encapsulated cells was about 3 times that of the nonencapsulated cells.

CONCLUSIONAPA microencapsulation may significantly increase the post-thaw recovery and improve the function for cryopreserved rat islets.

Alginates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Capsules ; Cell Separation ; Cell Survival ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Insulin ; secretion ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; secretion ; Male ; Polylysine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of a new obesity-related gene NYGGF4 on the insulin sensitivity and secretory function of adipocytes.

METHODS3T3-L1 preadipocytes transfected with either an empty expression vector (pcDNA3.1; control group) or an NYGGF4 expression vector (NYGGF4-pcDNA3.1) were cultured in vitro and differentiated into the matured adipocytes with the standard insulin plus dexamethasone plus 3-isobutyl-methylxanthine (MDI) induction cocktail. 2-deoxy-D-[3H] glucose uptake was determined by liquid scintillation counting. Western blot was performed to detect the protein content and translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). The supernatant concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-6, adiponectin and resistin were measured using ELISA.

RESULTSNYGGF4 over-expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. NYGGF4 over-expression impaired insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation without affecting the total protein content of GLUT4. The concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-6, adiponectin and resistin in the culture medium of 3T3-L1 transfected with NYGGF4 were not significantly different from those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSNYGGF4 over-expression impairs the insulin sensitivity of 3T3-L1 adipocytes through decreasing GLUT4 translocation and had no effects on the secretory function of adipocytes.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; drug effects ; secretion ; Adiponectin ; secretion ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; analysis ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; secretion ; Mice ; Resistin ; analysis ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; secretion

Luo han kuo fruit (Siraitia grosvenori Swingle), a fruit native to China, has been used as a natural sweetening agent for centuries and has been reported to be beneficial for diabetic population. However, limited research has been conducted to elucidate the relationship between the sweetening action and biological parameters that may be related to potential health benefits of LHK fruit (Luo Han Kuo fruit). The present study examined the effect of LHK fruit and its chemical components on insulin secretion using an in vitro cell model system. Mogroside V is the most abundant and the sweetest chemical component among the mogrosides in LHK fruit. The experimental data demonstrated that the crude LHK extract stimulated the secretion of insulin in pancreatic beta cells; furthermore, pure mogroside V isolated from LHK fruit also exhibited a significant activity in stimulating insulin secretion by the beta cells, which could partially be responsible for the insulin secretion activity of LHK fruit and fruit extract. The current study supports that LHK fruit/extract has the potential to be natural sweetener with a low glycemic index, and that mogroside V, possible other related mogrosides, can provide a positive health impact on stimulating insulin secretion.
Animals ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; secretion ; Momordica ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Sweetening Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the chemical constituents of the whole herbs of Crossostephium chinense on insulin secretion in rat islets.

METHODIslets were isolated from rat pancreata, cultured in vitro, and measured by color signals of dithizone stained digestion solution for detection of pancreatic islets. The morphological observation of islets was carried out by inverted microscope. The effects of test compounds, scopoletin (1), scopolin (2), tanacetin (3), quercetagetin-3,6,7-trimethylether (4) and 5-O-methyl-myo-inositol (5) isolated from the whole herbs of C. chinense, on the insulin secreting level from islets were compared with those of glybenclamide as a positive control substances, and the difference in insulin secreting level from islets between the presence and absence of test compounds was assayed.

RESULTThere was no difference in basal insulin secretion before and after 2 h incubation period of rat islets. The islets treated with quercetagetin-3,6,7-trimethylether have about 2-fold higher insulin secreting level (P < 0.01) compared a normal control group. The islets treated with 5-O-methyl-myo-inositol have about 1.5-fold higher insulin secreting level (P < 0.05) compared to a normal control group. Whereas the islets treated with scopoletin show about 1.9-fold lower basal insulin secreting level (P < 0.05) than a normal control group.

CONCLUSIONIn this paper the developed cultivation method of isolated pancreatic islets from rat can be used as a kind of islet-based drug screening model for diabetes mellitus in vitro. Quercetagetin-3,6,7-trimethylether and 5-O-methyl-myo-inositol could enhance rat islet insulin secretion and further in vivo studies are needed to clarify the nature of such an observation. However, scopletin suppress rat islet insulin secretion.

Animals ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insulin ; secretion ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; secretion ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of insulin in different concentrations on secretion function of growth factors of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs).

METHODSADSCs were isolated from human abdominal adipose tissue and cultured. The immunophenotype and adipose induced-differentiation were identified, and the third generation cells were collected. The collected cells were assigned to 1 x 10(-8), 1 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-6) mol/L insulin groups according to the concentration of added insulin. When cells grew into 70% confluence in conventional medium, ADSCs were cultured further in serum-free DMEM containing insulin in different concentrations for 3 days. ADSCs cultured in medium without insulin were used as control group. Secretion amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) of ADSCs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of the supernatant fluid of ADSCs' nutrient solution on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of the cultured fibroblast were detected by MTT chromatometry and hydroxyproline chromatometry.

RESULTSThe secretion amounts of VEGF and HGF of ADSCs in 1 x 10(-8) and 1 x 10(-7) mol/L insulin groups [(471 +/- 41, 762 +/- 66 ng/L), (643 +/- 64, 930 +/- 67 ng/L), respectively] were significantly higher as compared with those in control group (286 +/- 47, 577 +/- 84 ng/L) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No change occurred in the secretion amount of VEGF and HGF of ADSCs in 1 x l0(-6) mol/L insulin group (P > 0.05). The supernatant fluid of ADSCs' nutrient medium of 1 x 10(-8), 1 x 10(-7) mol/L insulin groups showed obvious stimulative effect on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts, and it was most obvious in the 1 x 10(-7) mol/L group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSInsulin in the concentrations of 1 x 10(-8) and 1 x 10(-7) mol/L can notably promote ADSCs' function of secreting VEGF and HGF.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; secretion ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; secretion ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism