Paeoniflorin attenuates gestational diabetes via Akt/mTOR pathway in a rat model

  • Yonghua Zhang Heze Municipal Hospital of Shandong Province
  • Yulin Liang Heze Municipal Hospital of Shandong Province
  • Huiqiao Liu Heze Municipal Hospital of Shandong Province
  • Ying Huang Heze Municipal Hospital of Shandong Province
  • Hongmei Li Heze Municipal Hospital of Shandong Province
  • Bo Chen Heze Municipal Hospital of Shandong Province
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v64.4362
Keywords: GDM; mTOR; Paeoniflorin; Glucose; Insulin

Abstract

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes associated with pregnancy and may impose risks on both mother and fetus. Akt paeoniflorin was shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemia properties and has a potential ability to suppress mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. The current study aimed to study the effect of paeoniflorin on GDM maternal, fetal, and placental characteristics in vivo.

Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced gestational diabetes rat model was used in our study. The expression levels of phosphorylation (p-) and total protein expression levels of protein kinase B (Akt), mTOR, serum/ glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), and eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in the placenta were determined by Western blot assay. The blood glucose, insulin, and leptin levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: We found that placental Akt/mTOR signaling was substantially upregulated in GDM patients compared with healthy donors. Paeoniflorin administration alleviates the dysregulation of blood glucose, leptin, and insulin levels in both maternal and fetal GDM rats. Paeoniflorin treatment suppressed the overactivation of Akt/mTOR signaling in placental tissues. More importantly, administration of paeoniflorin was beneficial for normalization of fetal size and body weight in the GDM rats.

Conclusion: Our study suggested that application of paeoniflorin may serve as a potential therapeutical strategy for patients with GDM.

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Published
2020-10-01
How to Cite
Zhang Y., Liang Y., Liu H., Huang Y., Li H., & Chen B. (2020). Paeoniflorin attenuates gestational diabetes via Akt/mTOR pathway in a rat model. Food & Nutrition Research, 64. https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v64.4362
Issue
Vol 64 (2020)
Section
Original Articles
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