Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 23, 2026

A Zebrafish Model of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Memory
10:03

A Zebrafish Model of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Memory

Published on: February 28, 2013

26.5K

Caspase/AIF/apoptosis pathway: a new target of puerarin for diabetes mellitus therapy

Tao Liang1, Xiaohui Xu2, Dongmei Ye3

  • 1College of Stomatology of Guangxi Medical University, No. 10, Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, People's Republic of China. kqliangtao@126.com.

Molecular Biology Reports
|June 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Puerarin (PR) protects pancreatic beta cells from apoptosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice. This study shows PR reduces blood glucose and improves insulin levels by regulating apoptosis-related proteins.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pancreatic beta cell damage is a key factor in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development.
  • Puerarin (PR) has shown potential in regulating mitochondrial function in diabetic nephropathy.
  • The effect of PR on pancreatic beta cell apoptosis in T2DM requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective mechanism of Puerarin (PR) against pancreatic beta cell apoptosis in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Main Methods:

  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was induced in mice using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ).
  • Mice were treated with Puerarin (PR) to assess its effects on glycemic control and pancreatic beta cell apoptosis.
  • Western blot analysis and TUNEL staining were employed to evaluate apoptosis-related protein expression and cell death.

Main Results:

  • Puerarin (PR) treatment significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and LDL levels.
  • PR treatment increased fasting insulin (FINS) and HDL levels.
  • PR inhibited pancreatic beta cell apoptosis by downregulating caspase-3, 8, 9, and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) protein expression, and improved pancreatic histopathology.

Conclusions:

  • Puerarin (PR) demonstrates protective effects against pancreatic beta cell apoptosis in a T2DM mouse model.
  • PR exerts its protective effects by modulating the expression of key apoptosis-related proteins, including the caspase family and AIF.
  • These findings suggest Puerarin (PR) as a potential therapeutic agent for T2DM by preserving beta cell function.
Keywords:
Apoptosis-inducing factorCaspasePuerarinType 2 diabetes mellitus

More Related Videos

Use of a Caspase Multiplexing Assay to Determine Apoptosis in a Hypothalamic Cell Model08:27

Use of a Caspase Multiplexing Assay to Determine Apoptosis in a Hypothalamic Cell Model

Published on: April 16, 2014

16.3K
Analysis of Apoptosis in Zebrafish Embryos by Whole-mount Immunofluorescence to Detect Activated Caspase 308:20

Analysis of Apoptosis in Zebrafish Embryos by Whole-mount Immunofluorescence to Detect Activated Caspase 3

Published on: December 20, 2013

20.6K

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
4.4K
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
5.0K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.7K
Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside...
13.8K
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size...
14.2K
C4 Pathway and CAM01:27

C4 Pathway and CAM

Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
48.9K