Research Article Details
Article ID: | A01000 |
PMID: | 34906049 |
Source: | Biochemistry (Mosc) |
Title: | AMPK/PGC-1α/GLUT4-Mediated Effect of Icariin on Hyperlipidemia-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Lipid Metabolism Disorder in Mice. |
Abstract: | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the world. Therapeutic activity of icariin, a major bioactive component of Epimedii Herba, in NAFLD is still unknown. Herein, the C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 16 weeks to establish a NAFLD model. Mice were assigned to five groups: control group, NAFLD group, and icariin treatment groups. Effects of icariin on blood indices, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, histopathological morphology, cell apoptosis, lipid accumulation, and AMPK signaling were analyzed. In addition, another cohort of mice were assigned to five groups: control group, NAFLD group, dorsomorphin treatment group, icariin treatment group, and dorsomorphin + icariin treatment group. Expression of proteins in liver tissues associated with AMPK signaling, and levels of ALT and AST were evaluated. Icariin attenuated the NAFLD-induced increase of the TG, TC, LDL-C, ALT, AST levels. HDL-C levels were affected neither by NAFLD nor by icariin. Furthermore, icariin treatment (100-200 mg/kg) counteracted the NAFLD-reduced glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and modulated histopathological changes, cell apoptosis, and lipid accumulation in liver tissues. Additionally, icariin mitigated the NAFLD-induced up-regulation of the cleaved caspase 3/9, SREBP-1c, and DGAT-2 levels, and enhanced the expression level of CPT-1, p-ACC/ACC, AMPKα1, PGC-1α, and GLUT4. Effects of icariin on the AMPK signaling and levels of AST and ALT could be reversed by AMPK inhibitor, dorsomorphin. This paper investigates the glucose-reducing and lipid-lowering effects of icariin in NAFLD. Moreover, icariin might function through activating the AMPKα1/PGC-1α/GLTU4 pathway. |
DOI: | 10.1134/S0006297921110055 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S02 | Enhance lipid metabolism | triglyceride-lowering; lipid tolerance; lipid metabolism | 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) inhibitor; Decreases intestinal cholesterol absorption; FXR agonist; ACC inhibitor; FAS inhibitor; DGAT2 inhibitor; SCD-1 inhibitor | Atorvastatin; Ezetimibe; Obeticholic Acid; GS-9674; GS-0976; TVB-2640; IONIS-DGAT2rx; Aramchol; | Details |
S13 | Anti-apoptosis | hepatocyte apoptosis; hepatic autophagy; apoptosis | Pan-caspase inhibitor | Emricasan | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T01 | 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase subunit beta-1 | PRKAB1 | activator | Kinase | Q9Y478 | AAKB1_HUMAN | Details |
T10 | Caspase-1 | CASP1 | inhibitor | Enzyme | P29466 | CASP1_HUMAN | Details |
T18 | Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 | ACACA | inhibitor | Enzyme | Q13085 | ACACA_HUMAN | Details |
T05 | Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma | PPARG | agonist | Nuclear hormone receptor | P37231 | PPARG_HUMAN | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D581 | sobetirome | Chemical drug | -- | Thyroid hormone receptor beta agonists | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D203 | Levothyroxine | Chemical drug | DB00451 | THRA agonist; THRB agonist | Anti-fibrosis | Under clinical trials | Details |
D080 | Citrulline | Chemical drug | DB00155 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |