Betaine Down Regulates Apelin Gene Expression in Cardiac and Adipose Tissues of Insulin Resistant Diabetic Rats Fed by High-Calorie Diet

Abstract

Apelin is a newly discovered peptide that its serum level increases in diabetic patients with cardiovascular dysfunction. Recent studies indicate the beneficial actions of betaine in reducing the cardiovascular and metabolic complications, however data related to its effect on adipocytokine expression is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of betaine supplementation on Apelin gene expression in cardiac muscle and adipose tissue of insulin resistance, diabetic rats fed by a high calorie diet. To induce insulin resistance rats were fed with high fat/high carbohydrate diet for five weeks and then 30 mg/kg STZ was injected intraperitoneally. After confirming of diabetes incidence (serum glucose above 7.5 mmol/l) the animals were treated with 1 % betaine in drinking water for 28 days. At days 14 and 28 after treatment, animals were euthanized and Apelin gene expression was evaluated by real time PCR and western blot in heart and adipose tissues. Serum levels of insulin, Apelin and glucose and HOMA-IR were also measured. Our results showed that feeding of rats by a high calorie diets caused insulin resistance, which was manifested by elevated plasma insulin, glucose and Apelin levels and also HOMA-IR. Apelin gene expression in heart and adipose tissues were significantly increased simultaneously with the progression of diabetes. Betaine supplementation decreased serum Apelin and down regulated Apelin expression in adipose tissue and cardiac muscle, particularly at day 28 of treatment. We concluded that betaine might improve metabolic and cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients by regulation of Apelin expression and secretion.

<p>Comparative Effects of Curcumin versus Nano-Curcumin on Insulin Resistance, Serum Levels of Apelin and Lipid Profile in Type 2 Diabetic Rats</p>

“…39,47,48 Nazari et al found that serum levels of apelin increased with insulin resistance in diabetic rats. 38 Dray et al demonstrated that apelin increased glucose uptake in isolated soleus muscles. They postulated that apelin's effects were mediated by the serine-threonine kinase AMPK in a pathway also involving eNOS.…”

“…In clinical and experimental studies, serum level of apelin or its adipose tissue expression is increased in obese and insulin-resistant cases. [38][39][40] Apelin has a role in energy metabolism, improves the sensitivity of insulin in insulin-resistant obese mice, and it is related to increase in glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. 41 Studies have shown that CUR has a stronger antioxidant effect than vitamins E and C and can inhibit the activity of free radicals.…”

Interaction between stress hormones and phagocytic cells and its effect on the health status of dairy cows: A review

“…Nutritional status can affect apelin in serum and a hypercaloric diet increases adipose tissue and plasma apelin concentrations [ 114 , 115 ]. Norvezh et al .…”

L‐carnitine improves metabolic disorders and regulates apelin and apelin receptor genes expression in adipose tissue in diabetic rats

“…The rats (n = 60) were randomly divided into four equal groups (n = 15). Two groups were fed with high-energy diet [prepared by adding 20% sucrose (w/w) and 10% beef tallow (w/w) into diets] (Nazari et al, 2016) for 5 weeks and called High fat/High carbohydrate (HF/HC; n = 30); then, they received a single dose of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg, i.p; STZ, Sigma, Germany; Qian et al, 2015). Five days after STZ treatment, glucose was measured by hand-held glucometer (EasyGluco, South Korea) in HF/ HC.…”

“…Five days after STZ treatment, glucose was measured by hand-held glucometer (EasyGluco, South Korea) in HF/ HC. The elevation of serum glucose above 7.5 mmol/L was considered as an index and confirmation of diabetes induction (Nazari et al, 2016). One diabetic group (n = 15) received LC 300 mg kg −1 day −1 (Bazotte & Bertolini, 2012) in drinking water concomitant with HF/ HC diets for 28 days.…”