1. Academic Validation
  2. Honokiol protects pancreatic β cell against high glucose and intermittent hypoxia-induced injury by activating Nrf2/ARE pathway in vitro and in vivo

Honokiol protects pancreatic β cell against high glucose and intermittent hypoxia-induced injury by activating Nrf2/ARE pathway in vitro and in vivo

  • Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Jan;97:1229-1237. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.063.
Chen-Guang Li 1 Chang-Lin Ni 2 Min Yang 2 Yun-Zhao Tang 2 Zhu Li 2 Yan-Juan Zhu 2 Zhen-Huan Jiang 2 Bei Sun 2 Chun-Jun Li 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development (Ministry of Health), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Metabolic Diseases Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, 300070 Tianjin, China. Electronic address: lichenguang1005@126.com.
  • 2 Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development (Ministry of Health), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Metabolic Diseases Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, 300070 Tianjin, China.
Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is associated with glucose intolerance, Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although several studies have revealed that intermittent hypoxia (IH) in OSAHS may further aggravate pancreatic β cell damage and promote the evolution of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) by increasing oxidative stress, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Honokiol, a potent radical scavenger, has been demonstrated to ameliorate oxidative stress in many cases. The present study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of IH and diabetes synergistically damage and destruct the pancreatic β cell, examine the effects of honokiol on ameliorating pancreatic β cell injury in this context and explore the mechanism of such effects. High glucose (HG) cultured INS-1 cells were exposed to 50 μM of honokiol for 24, 48 and 72 h with or without IH intervention. T2DM rats were treated with honokiol and exposed to 80 s of IH followed by 160 s of normoxia for 8 weeks. The cell proliferation, Apoptosis and oxidative stress were measured. Blood glucose, Insulin, glucagon and HOMA-IR (Homeostasis model assessment -insulin resistence) were also detected, and the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting. Honokiol can reduce oxidative stress, cytotoxicity and Apoptosis in the INS-1 cells of rats receiving HG treatment or both HG and IH treatment. IH can further aggravate pancreas dysfunction, cause a marked elevation in fasting blood glucose, glucagon, HOMA-IR and oxidative stress levels in DM rats. In addition, honokiol can effectively activate the Nrf2/ARE pathway and reverse this pancreatic dysfunction in vivo and in vitro. These findings indicate that honokiol acts as a potent ROS scavenger via Nrf2/ARE pathway and effectively attenuates oxidative stress and improves pancreatic β cell function of DM rats under IH treatment.

Keywords

Honokiol; Intermittent hypoxia; Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway; Pancreatic β cell; Type 2 diabetes.

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