Kaiyuqingre formula improves insulin secretion via regulating uncoupling protein-2 and KATPchannel

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） results from the complex association of insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell failure. Recent studies have shown that patients diagnosed with T2DM present with a significant decrease in β-cell function, which can be further compromised during the progression of the disease. Several mechanisms have been shown to play a role in this process such as glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity, which contribute to accelerating insulin secretion. In this regard, Chinese medicine has a certain advantage. This experiment was performed to observe the effect of a Chinese medicine named Kaiyuqingre formula （KYQRF） on β-cell function and its mechanisms of action therein. Methods High glucose was used to set up a model of β-cell function failure. At the same time, medicated serum of KYQRF with different doses were administered to the cells. Rosiglitazone was taken as a control to observe the changes in insulin secretion, ATP-sensitive K＋ channels （KATP channel） and uncoupling protein-2 （UCP-2） in each group. Results KYQRF had some effects on the insulin secretion. In a low glucose environment, no effective change in insulin secretion was observed （P 〉0.05）. However, insulin levels increased significantly when INS-1 cells were exposed to a high glucose environment （P 〈0.05）. KYQRF could also enhance cell viability （P 〈0.05） in an effect similar to rosiglitazone. Although KYQRF had no effect on inwardly rectifying potassium channels （Kir6.2） （P 〉0.05）, it could decrease the overexpression of both UCP-2 and sulfonylurea receptor 1 （P〈0.05）. Conclusion KYQRF can protect islet function by decreasing UCP-2 and sulfonylurea receptor 1.

Hydrogen sulfide defends against the cardiovascular risk of Nw-nitro-L-argininemethyl ester-induced hypertension in rats via the nitric oxide/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway

Background Dyslipidemia caused by liver injury is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular complications.Previous studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide （H2S） protects against multiple cardiovascular disease states in a similar manner as nitric oxide （NO）,and NO/endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS） pathway is the key route of NO production.The purpose of this study was to investigate whether H2S can ameliorate the high blood pressure and plasma lipid profile in Nw-nitro-L-argininemethyl ester （L-NAME）-induced hypertensive rats by NO/eNOS pathway.Methods Thirty-six 4-week old Sprague-Dawley （SD） male rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups （n=6）：control group,L-NAME group,control ＋ glibenclamide group,control ＋ NaHS group,L-NAME ＋ NaHS group,and L-NAME ＋ NaHS ＋ glibenclamide group.Measurements were made of plasma triglycerides （TG）,low-density lipoprotein （LDL）,high-density lipoprotein （HDL）,total cholesterol （CHO）,glutamic-pyruvic transaminase （ALT） levels after 5 weeks.Then measurements of NO level and proteins expression of eNOS,P-eNOS,AKT,P-AKT were made in liver tissue.Results After 5 weeks of L-NAME treatment,the blood pressure,plasma TG （（1.22±0.12） mmol/L in L-NAME group vs.（0.68±0.09） mmol/L in control group; P ＜0.05） and LDL （（0.54±0.04） mmol/L in L-NAME group vs.（0.28±0.02） mmol/L in control group; P ＜0.05） concentration were significantly increased,and the plasma HDL （（0.26±0.02） mmol/L in L-NAME group vs.（0.69±0.07） mmol/L in control group; P ＜0.05） concentration significantly decreased.Meanwhile the rats treated with L-NAME exhibit dysfunctional eNOS,diminished NO levels （（1.36±0.09） mmol/g protein in L-NAME group vs.（2.34±0.06） mmol/g protein in control group; P ＜0.05） and pathological changes of the liver.H2S therapy can markedly decrease the blood pressure （（37.25±4.46） mmHg at the fifth week; P ＜0.05）,and ameliorate the plasma TG （（0.59±0.06） mmHg）,LDL （（0.32±0.04） mmHg）,and HDL （（0.46±0.03） mmHg） concentration in L-NAME ＋ NaHS group （all P ＜0.05）.H2S therapy can also restore eNOS function and NO bioavailability and attenuate the pathological changes in the liver in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.Conclusion H2S protects the L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats against liver injury via NO/eNOS pathway,therefore de.creases the cardiovascular risk.

The functional change of perivascular adipose tissue in hypertensive rats and its mechanisms

Background Recent studies have showed that perivascular adipose tissue （PVAT） may secrete the adventitial-derived relaxing factor （ADRF） to affect vascular function.However,the functional change of ADRF in hypertensive status is seldom studied;and the mechanisms of ADRF remain unclear.Our study examined the ADRF secreted by perivascular adipose tissue of control rats with normal blood pressure （Wistar Kyoto rats,WKY） and discussed the mechanisms of ADRF;We observed the functional change in ADRF of perivascular adipose tissue in spontaneously hypertensive rats （SHRs）.Method The two adjacent thoracic aorta rings of SHR and WKY rats were divided into naked vessel subgroup and PVAT subgroup.The differences of vascular contractility between the two subgroups induced by 10-6 mmol/L phenylephrine were compared.The effect of PVAT culture medium of WKY on the vascular tension of Fat （-） vessels was observed by liquid transfer measure.The mechanism of ADRF was determined by tool drugs.Results In WKY group,vascular contractility of Fat （＋） subgroup was lower than that of the Fat （-） subgroup （P 0.05）;while in SHR group,there was no difference between the two subgroups （P 0.05）.Transferring the incubation solution of WKY Fat （＋） subgroup to the matched Fat （-） subgroup induced rapid vasodilation.When incubating blood vessels in calcium free PSS solution,there was no significant difference of phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction between Fat （-） and Fat （＋） subgroup.Both glibenclamide,the blocker of ATP-sensitive potassium （KATP） channel and Tetraethy-lammonium chloride （TEA）,the inhibitor of calcium-dependent potassium （KCa） channel,effectively inhibited vasodilation function of ADRF.Conclusions Perivascular adipose tissue in WKY releases ADRF which can cause vasodilation,while this function was inhibited in SHR.ADRF acts through the activation of KCa and KATP channels and calcium ion is involved.