Effects of curcumin on glucose transport and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in adipocytes of type 2 diabetic rats

  Objective: To explore the effects of curcumin on glucose transport and phosphatidylinositol kinase-3 (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway in adipocytes of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) rats.

  Methods: 90 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group (high-fat feeding), curcumin low-dose group (50mg/kg), curcumin medium-dose group (150mg/kg), curcumin high-dose group ( 250mg/kg), rosiglitazone group (1.35mg/kg), 15 rats in each group. Immediately after administration, administration for 2 weekends, administration for 8 weekends, measurement of rat body weight, administration for 8 weekends, fasting for 12 hours, blood collection , Respectively detect fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS) expression, calculate insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), triglycerides (TG), low/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDC-C/HDL-C), Total cholesterol (TC) expression. Orthose clamp test to determine the glucose perfusion rate, fluorescence immunoassay to detect the translocation of adipocyte membrane glucose transporter 4 (GluT4), real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) to detect GluT4 in adipocytes, protein immunity Blotting to detect the expression of GluT4, p-PI3K, insulin receptor substrate 2 (Irs2), p-Akt in adipocytes and outer membranes.

  Results: Compared with the normal group, the model group gained weight immediately after administration for 2 weeks, and lost weight for 8 weeks after administration; compared with the model group, administration immediately, after administration for 2 weeks, after administration for 8 weeks, curcumin The body weight of the treatment group and the rosiglitazone group decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the model group FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, HDC-L, LDC-L, TC, and TG increased, and glucose The sugar injection rate decreased in a dose-dependent manner; GluT4mRNA increased in the model group, and the protein expression of GluT4, Irs2, p-PI3K/PI3K, pAkt/Akt decreased significantly; the above differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the model group Compared with the curcumin treatment group and rosiglitazone group, FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, HDC-L, LDC-L, TC, TG levels were significantly reduced; the glucose injection rate was significantly increased; GluT4mRNA was reduced, GluT4, and GluT4. Irs2、p-PI3K/PI3K、pAkt/Akt protein expression was significantly increased; the above differences were statistically significant (P<0.05), and the differences between the three groups of curcumin dosage groups were also statistically significant (P<0.05) 。

  Conclusion: Curcumin can improve insulin sensitivity in T2DM rats, which may be achieved by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to promote the GluT4 membrane transport of adipocytes, increasing the uptake of glucose by adipocytes, and thereby alleviating the balance of blood glucose metabolism.