TITLE:
UP780, a Chromone-Enriched Aloe Composition, Enhances Adipose Insulin Receptor Signaling and Decreases Liver Lipid Biosynthesis
AUTHORS:
Julie Tseng-Crank, Seon-Gil Do, Brandon Corneliusen, Carmen Hertel, Jennifer Homan, Mesfin Yimam, Jifu Zhao, Qi Jia
KEYWORDS:
Nutrigenomics; Insulin Signaling Pathway; Liver Fatty Acid Biosynthesis; Liver Steatosis; Aloe Vera
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Genetics,
Vol.3 No.2B,
July
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: Nutrigenomic studies were conducted to uncover the
mechanism of action for the hypoglycemic and insulin sensitizing effects of
UP780. From high fat diet-induced obesity mouse model for UP780, livers and
white adipose tissues (WAT) from groups of lean control, high fat diet (HFD), and HFD treated with UP780
were collected for microarray study. Microarray generated gene
expression changes were applied to Ingenuity Pathway Analysis for changes in
canonical metabolic and signaling pathways. Microarray was validated by
quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (QPCR), Western
blots, liver triglyceride, liver cholesterol, liver steatosis, and insulin
ELISA. UP780 treatment decreased liver gene expressions for multiple enzymes
involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and triglyceride production. UP780 treatment increased gene expressions globally for the insulin receptor signaling
pathway in WAT. Both liver triglyceride and liver cholesterol levels were significantly reduced by UP780 over HFD. The reduction of liver fat was confirmed by
microscopic analysis of liver steatosis. Finally, UP780 significantly
decreased fasting plasma insulin level over HFD. The mechanism of action for
UP780 indicated a reduction of liver fat accumulation and an enhancement in
adipose tissue insulin signaling pathway. This provided mechanistic
explanation for the in vivo UP780
effects of enhanced insulin sensitiveity and decreased blood glucose in
mouse diabetes and prediabetes models.