• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.289-294
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• 2017

Diabetes mellitus is associated with insulin resistance, which leads to down-regulation of insulin signaling and the decreased glucose uptake. Adipocytes are sensitive to insulin, and closely implicated in insulin resistance and diabetes. Insulin stimulates differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes, and increases glucose transport. Allium species have been used as traditional medicine and health-promoting foods. Allium hookeri (A. hookeri) is reported to improve the pancreatic ${\beta}-cell$ damage and exhibit pancreatic anti-inflammatory activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We investigated whether A. hookeri extract (AHE) may stimulate glucose uptake in adipocytes through increasing insulin sensitivity. AHE enhanced fat accumulation, a differentiation biomarker, under the partial induction of differentiation by insulin. $PPAR{\gamma}$, a transcription factor highly expressed in adipocytes, promotes adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. AHE increased the differentiation of preadipocytes through up-regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$. The activation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ increases the GLUT4 expression during adipocyte differentiation. GLUT4 is responsible for glucose uptake into the adipocytes. AHE increased the expression of GLUT4 in adipocytes, and subsequently enhanced the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. These results suggest that AHE promotes adipocyte differentiation through activation of $PPAR{\gamma}$, and leads to enhance glucose uptake in adipocytes along with GLUT4 up-regulation. Thus, AHE may be effective for the insulin-sensitizing and anti-diabetic activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Brown seaweeds have been shown to decrease blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity previously. In this study, we investigated the effect of fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide derived from brown seaweeds, on glucose uptake to improve insulin resistance, and examined its mechanism of action in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We observed that fucoidan significantly increased glucose uptake and it was related to an increased expression of plasma membrane-glucose transporter 4 (PM-GLUT4) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Fucoidan treatment increased the activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1tyr) compared with that of the control cells. Fucoidan also promoted the phosphorylation of Akt and protein kinase C (PKC)-λ/ζ compared to that of the control cells. Moreover, fucoidan significantly upregulated acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACC) and adenosine monophosphate - activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. As a result, translocation of GLUT4 was significantly enhanced in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which significantly promoted glucose uptake via the PI3K/AMPK pathways. The elevation of glucose uptake by fucoidan was blocked by inhibitor of PI3K and inhibitor of AMPK in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These findings indicate that fucoidan might ameliorate glucose uptake through GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane by activating the PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Fucoidan is thought to be of high material value to diabetes treatments and functional foods.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.589-597
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• 1998

Effects of Mori Folium Ethanol Soluble Fraction (MFESF) on mRNA expression of glucose transporters, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and leptin were examined in db/db mice. 500 and 1000mg/kg dose for MFESF (designated by SY 500 and SY 1000, respectively) and 5mg/kg dose for acarbose were administered for 6 weeks. Quantitations of glucose transporters (GLUT-2 and GLUT-4), ACC and leptin mRNA were performed by RT-PCR and in vitro transcription with co-amplification of rat ${\beta}$-actin gene as an internal standard. Muscular GLUT-4 mRNA expression in MFESF-treated groups were increased dose dependently. On the other hand, MFESF caused the GLLT-4 and leptin mRNA expressions in adipose tissue to decrease dose dependently, which means that triglyceride synthesis in adipocytes might be decreased and consequently signals adipocytes to inhibit the synthesis and release of leptin. Hepatic ACC mRNA expression in MFESF-treated groups was also decreased. and this may result in lowering of serum triiglyceride level. In contrast, liver GLUT-2 mRNA expressions in MFESF-treated and acarbose groups were increased. Higher rate of glucose uptake into hepatocytes is known to inhibit a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK)-catalyzed reaction, which is a rate-limiting step in gluconeogenesis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.240-245
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• 1997

Interactions between ganglioside $G_{M3}$ and glucose transporter, GLUT1 were studied by measuring the effect of $G_{M3}$ on steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence of purified GLUT1 in synthetic lipids and on the 3-O-methylglucose uptake by human erythrocytes. The intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence showed a GLUT 1 emission maximum of 335 nm, and increased in the presence of $G_{M3}$ by 12% without shifting the emission maximum, The fluorescence lifetimes of intrinsic tryptophan on GLUT1 consisted of a long component of 7.8 ns and a short component of 2,3 ns and $G_{M3}$ increased both lifetime components. Lifetime components were quenched by acrylamide and KI. Acrylarnide-mduced quenching of long-lifetime components was partly recovered by $G_{M3}$ However. KI-induccd quenching of short- and long-lifetime components was not rescued by $G_{M3}$. The anisotropy of 1.6-diphenyl-1.3.5-hexatriene (DPH)-probed dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) model membrane was also increased with $G_{M3}$ incorporation, The transport rate of 3-O-methylglucose increased by 20% with $G_{M3}$ incorporation on the erythrocytes, Therefore, $G_{M3}$ altered the environment of lipid membrane and induced the conformational change of GLUT1.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1159-1165
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• 2010

Glucose is the main energy source for mammalian cells and its absorption is co-mediated by two different families of glucose transporters, sodium/glucose co-transporters (SGLTs) and facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs). Here, we report the cloning and tissue distribution of porcine GLUT2. The GLUT2 was cloned by RACE and its cDNA was 2,051 bp long (GenBank accession no. EF140874). An AAATAA consensus sequence at nucleotide positions 1936-1941 was located upstream of the poly $(A)^+$ tail. Open reading frame analysis suggested that porcine GLUT2 contained 524 amino acids, with molecular weight of 57 kDa. The amino acid sequence of porcine GLUT2 was 87% and 79.4% identical with human and mouse GLUT2, respectively. GLUT2 mRNA was detected at highest level in porcine liver, at moderate levels in the small intestine and kidney, and at low levels in the brain, lung, muscle and heart. In the small intestine, the highest level was in the jejunum. In conclusion, the mRNA expression of GLUT2 was not only differentially regulated by age, but also differentially distributed along the small intestine of piglets, which may be related to availability of different intestinal luminal substrate concentrations resulting from different food sources and digestibility.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.27.1-27.5
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• 2014

Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. (Scrophulariaceae) is a traditional Ayurvedic herb known as Kutki. It is used as a remedy for diabetes by tribes of North Eastern Himalayan region of India. Present study was conducted to explore the mechanism of antidiabetic activity of standardized aqueous extract of Picrorhiza kurroa (PkE). PkE (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to streptozotocin induced diabetic rats, for 14 consecutive days. Plasma insulin levels were measured and pancreas of rat was subjected to histopathological investigations. Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4) protein content in the total membrane fractions of soleus muscle was estimated by Western blot analysis. Plasma insulin level was significantly increased along with concomitant increase in GLUT-4 content of total membrane fractions of soleus muscle of diabetic rats treated with extract. There was evidence of regeneration of ${\beta}$-cells of pancreatic islets of PkE treated group in histopathological examinations. PkE increased the insulin-mediated translocation of GLUT-4 from cytosol to plasma membrane or increased GLUT-4 expression, which in turn facilitated glucose uptake by skeletal muscles in diabetic rats.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2013

Previous studies have shown that Aloe QDM complex, which is consisted of chromium (Cr), aloesin (ALS) and processed Aloe vera gel (PAG), exert antidiabetic activity in a high fat diet-induced mouse model of type 2 diabetes. In this study we examined the mechanism of the antidiabetic activity of the Aloe QDM complex. Rat myoblast cell line L6 cells were cultured in the presence of Cr, ALS, and PAG alone and in combinations, and then the capability of the cells to uptake glucose was examined using radiolabeled glucose. All of the 3 agents, Cr, ALS and PAG, exerted glucose uptake-enhancing activity in L6 cells. The most potent capability to uptake glucose was observed when L6 cells were cultured with the Aloe QDM complex. The activity of the Aloe QDM complex to enhance glucose uptake was prominent in conditions where existing insulin concentrations are low. We also examined the effects of the Aloe QDM complex on the plasma membrane expression of GLUT4 in L6 cells. The Aloe QDM complex increased the content of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane, while decreasing the content of GLUT4 in the light microsome. Taken together, these results show that the antidiabetic activity of the Aloe QDM complex is at least in part due to the stimulation of glucose uptake into the muscle cells, and this activity of the Aloe QDM complex is mediated through the enhancement of the translocation of GLUT4 into the plasma membrane.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.294-302
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• 2000

Purpose: To investigate the mechanisms related to F-18-FDG uptake by tumors, F-18-FDG accumulation was compared with glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1) expression and hexokinase activity in various human cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Human colon cancer (SNU-C2A, SNU-C4, SNU-C5), hepatocellular carcinoma (SNU-387, SNU-423, SNU-449), lung cancer (NCI-H522, NCI-H358, NCI-H1299), uterine cervical cancer (HeLa, HeLa 229, HeLa S3) and brain tumor (A172, Hs 683) cell lines were used. After 24 hr incubation of $5{\times}10^5$ cells, 37 kBq F-18-FDG was added and the uptake by cells at 10 min was measured using a gamma counter. Hexokinase activity was measured by continuous spectrophotometric rate determination. To measure mitochondrial hexokinase activity, mitochondrial fraction was separated by a high speed centrifuge. Immunohistochemical staining of Glut-1 was performed, and graded as 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to expression. Results: There was difference among F-18-FDG uptake, total and mitochondrial hexokinase activity, and Glut-1 expression with different cancer cell lines. The correlations of F-18-FDG with total hexokinase and mitochondrial hexokinase activity were low (r=0.27 and 0.26, respectively). Glut-1 expression showed a good correlation with F-18-FDG uptake (p=0.81, p=0.0015). Previously, we reported no correlation of F-18-FDG uptake with hexokinase activity in colon cancer cell lines. Thus, when colon cancer cells were excluded, F-18-FDG uptake showed higher correlation with total hexokinase and mitochondrial hexokinase activity (r=0.81, p=0.0027 and r=0.81, p=0.0049, respectively). Conclusion: Both Glut-1 expression and hexokinase activity were contributing factors related to F-18-FDG accumulation in human cancer cell lines. The relative contribution of Glut-1 expression and hexokinase activity, however, was different among different cancer cell types.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 1999

Antidiabetic activity and mechanism of Supungsungihyan(SPSGH) were examined in db/db mice, which is a spontaneously hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic and obese animal model. SPSGH and acarbose were administered orally for 4 weeks. Fasting and non-fasting serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin and trig-lyceride of SPSGH treated group were all reduced when compared with those of db/db control group. At 12th week after birth, SPSGH increased an insulin secretion although statistic significance was not seen. Total activities of sucrose, maltase and lactase in SPSGH treated group were not significantly different from those in db/db control. On the other hand, sucrase and maltase activities in acarbose treated groups were increased. Effect of SPSGH on mRNA expression of glucose transporter(GLUT-4) was also examined by RT-PCR and in vitro transcription with co-amplification of rat $\beta$-actin gene as an internal standard. Muscular GLUT-4 mRNA expression in SPSGH treated group was increased significantly. These results may suggest that SPSGH lowered blood glucose ascribing to upregulation of muscular GLUT-4 mRNA expression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.108-120
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• 1999

In this study, body weight levels of glucose, insulin and triglyceride in blood and glucosidase activity of the small intestine were investigated to determine the effect of Sangbaegpitang and Supungsungiwhan on the glucose metabolism of db/db mice. The GLUT4 mRNA of muscle tissue and the Acetyl CoA Carboxylase and the activation rate of GLUT2 mRNA of liver tissue were measured by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method and by the vitro transcription. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In the Sangbaegpitang administration group, (1) The level of triglyceride was decreased significantly and the glucosidase activity of the small intestine was inhibited remarkably, (2) The amounts of the GLUT4 mRNA in muscle tissue and Acetyl CoA Carboxylase mRNA in liver tissue were increased significantly. (3) Though glucose level in both fasting and non-fasting, were decreased and the insulin level in blood was increased, the results showed no statistical significance. 2. In the Supungsungiwhan administration group, (1) The levels of glucose and triglyceride were decreased significantly in the blood of non-fasting animals. (2) The glucosidase activity of small intestine was inhibited markedly and the amounts of GLUT4 mRNA of muscle tissue and GLUT2 mRNA of liver tissue were increased significantly. (3) The glucose levels in the fasting group were reduced, while insulin level was increased but showed no statistical significance, Based on the above results, our conclusions are as follows: Sangbaegpitang & Supungsungiwhan are thought to be capable of inhibiting the activity glucosidase, the enzyme which influences carbohydrate metabolism in the small intestine of db/db mice(the experimental diabetic model) and delaying the absorption of carbohydrate, thus proving effective on inhibiting the increase of non-fasting glucose level effectively. Futhermore Sangbaegpitang and Supungsungiwhan are though: to be capable of preventing the composition of free fatty acids by restoring the production of GLUT4 mRNA of muscle tissues and GLUT2 mRNA of liver tissues. Those results suggests that above prescriptions can be applied to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in order to improve insulin resistance.