Abstract

Inulin, a naturally occurring, functional food ingredient found in various edible plants, has been reported to exert potential health benefits, including decreased risk of colonic diseases, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and cancer. However, the mechanism of the antidiabetic activity of inulin has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we showed that inulin increased the uptake of glucose in C2C12 myotubes, which was associated with both AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) signaling pathways, but both of these pathways appeared to transmit their signals in an independent manner. Moreover, we found that inulin was able to increase the uptake of glucose in C2C12 myotubes in which insulin resistance was induced by exposing cells to high glucose concentrations. The identical effects of inulin were also observed in HepG2 hepatoma cells. Collectively, we report the antidiabetic activity of inulin and further demonstrate for the first time that such activity is associated with AMPK and PI3-K activation. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Author keywords

Akt; AMP-activated protein kinase; Glucose uptake; Insulin resistance; Inulin; Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Indexed keywords

EMTREE drug terms: glucose; hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase kinase; insulin; inulin; phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase

EMTREE medical terms: article; cell strain HepG2; concentration (parameters); controlled study; drug effect; enzyme activation; glucose transport; hepatoma cell; human; human cell; insulin resistance; myotube; priority journal; signal transduction

MeSH: 1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Biological Transport; Blood Glucose; Cell Line; Functional Food; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin Resistance; Inulin; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal; Signal Transduction
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.

Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: glucose, 50-99-7, 84778-64-3; hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase kinase, 172522-01-9, 72060-32-3; insulin, 9004-10-8; inulin, 9005-80-5; phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, 115926-52-8;1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase, 2.7.1.137; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases, 2.7.11.1; Blood Glucose; Hypoglycemic Agents; Inulin, 9005-80-5

Manufacturers:Drug manufacturer: Sigma, United States.