1. Icariin induces irisin/FNDC5 expression in C2C12 cells via the AMPK pathway.
- Author
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Chen, Sui-Qing, Ding, Li-Na, Zeng, Ning-Xi, Liu, Hai-Mei, Zheng, Shu-Hui, Xu, Jin-Wen, and Li, Run-Mei
- Subjects
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FIBRONECTINS , *WHITE adipose tissue , *BROWN adipose tissue , *PEROXISOME proliferator-activated receptors , *WEIGHT gain , *PROTEIN kinases - Abstract
• Icariin was also found to protect against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. • Irisin, a recently identified myokine, regulates energy metabolism by inducing browning of white adipose tissue. • Icariin in vitro increased irisin/FNDC5 in C2C12 myotubes via AMPK pathway. • Icariin invivo decreased body weight in C57BL/6 mice and increased FNDC5 and p-AMPK expression in skeletal muscle. Backgroud Icariin, a major bioactive pharmaceutical component of the Chinese herbal medicine Epimedii Herba, has demonstrated lipid-lowering and anti-obesity effects. Irisin/ fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) protects against obesity by inducing browning in white adipose tissue. Objectives This study investigated the effects of icariin on irisin/FNDC5 expression in C2C12 myotubes. Method Cultured murine C2C12 myocytes were used to study the effects of icariin on irisin/FNDC5 expressions by Western-blot, qPCR, Elisa and Immunofluorescence. We also investigated FNDC5 expression in icariin-treated intact mice. Results Icariin increased irisin/FNDC5 protein levels. mRNA levels of irisin/FNDC5 were also increased in C2C12 myocytes after treatment with icariin. Icariin increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1alpha (PGC-1α) protein and mRNA levels. Additionally, icariin exposure resulted in phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a dose-dependent manner. The regulatory effect of icariin on FNDC5 protein expression was blocked by the AMPK antagonist compound C or silencing of AMPK, suggesting that icariin increased FNDC5 protein expression via the AMPK pathway. In vivo, icariin decreased body weight gain in C57BL/6 mice and increased FNDC5, PGC-1α, and p-AMPK expression levels in skeletal muscle. Conclusions Taken together, our results indicated that icariin induces irisin/FNDC5 expression via the AMPK pathway, indicating that icariin may be promising as an anti-obesity drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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