Research Article Details
Article ID: | A25780 |
PMID: | 21463618 |
Source: | Eur J Pharmacol |
Title: | A novel agonist of PPAR-γ based on barbituric acid alleviates the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating adipocytokine expression and preventing insulin resistance. |
Abstract: | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a frequent kind of metabolic syndrome, which included a wide spectrum of liver damage and closely associated with insulin resistance and other metabolic syndromes such as obesity, type II diabetes, hyperglycemia, etc. Recently, a new series of PPARγ ligands based on barbituric acid has been designed, in which 5-(4-(benzyloxy)benzylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione (SKLB102) showed a high affinity with PPARγ. The current study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of SKLB102 on NAFLD and investigate the underlying mechanisms. In vivo, oral administration of SKLB102 prevented the pathological development, as demonstrated by reducing liver weight and visceral fat effectively, decreasing the serum levels of alanine transaminase, TNF-α and glucose, diminishing the hepatic triglyceride and malondialdehyde content and recovering the abnormal down-regulation of LDL. Histological examination of liver sections by Oil Red O and H&E staining confirmed the protective effect of SKLB102 on NAFLD. Furthermore, SKLB102 elevated the serum level of adiponectin, reduced the serum level of leptin and prevented insulin resistance. Western blots indicated that SKLB102 increased the hepatic AMPK activities and CPT-1 expression. In vitro, SKLB102 showed the ability of significantly enhancing adiponectin expression and inhibiting leptin expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, SKLB102 could promote glucose consumption in HepG2 cells in the presence of 0.1 μM insulin. In conclusion, our current study provided strong evidence that SKLB102 had potent ability to reduce fat deposition and protect liver against NAFLD through regulating adipocytokine expression and preventing insulin resistance, which might be of protective value for the prevention of NAFLD. |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.03.033 |

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 |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T08 | Tumor necrosis factor | TNF | inhibitor | Cytokine | P01375 | TNFA_HUMAN | Details |
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 |
T07 | Bile acid receptor | NR1H4 | agonist | Nuclear hormone receptor | Q96RI1 | NR1H4_HUMAN | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D201 | L-Carnitine | Supplement | DB00583 | SLC22A4; SLC22A5; CRAT; MPO | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D062 | Carnitine complex | Supplement | DB00583 | SLC22A4; SLC22A5; CRAT; MPO | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |