C-Phycocyanin inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and increases glycogen synthesis via activating Akt and AMPK in insulin resistance hepatocytes

Food Funct. 2018 May 23;9(5):2829-2839. doi: 10.1039/c8fo00257f.

Abstract

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC), a kind of blue protein isolated from Spirulina platensis, can ameliorate hyperglycemia, but its effects on gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of C-PC on gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis in insulin resistant hepatocytes. Insulin resistance was induced by high glucose (HG) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. C-PC ameliorated glucose production and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) expression in HG-induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells. It also increased glucose uptake, glycogen content and glycogen synthase (GS) activation in HG-induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells. The data revealed the mechanism of C-PC in improving glucose homoeostasis via activating the IRS/PI3 K/Akt and SIRT1/LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway in insulin resistant hepatocytes. C-PC could be a promising leading compound for the development of a hypoglycemic agent.

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Gluconeogenesis / drug effects*
  • Glucose / biosynthesis
  • Glycogen / biosynthesis*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Phycocyanin / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Spirulina / chemistry

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Plant Extracts
  • Phycocyanin
  • Glycogen
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Glucose