Effect of Danshensu on expression of STAT1, PPARγ and hepatocyte growth factor in the liver of mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of Danshensu on the expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1(STAT1),peroxiome proliferators-activated receptor-γ(PPAR-γ) and hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice,and to assess its protective effect on the liver of mice.Methods Diabetic mice were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg streptozotocin(200 mg/kg).Then the diabetic mice were randomly divided into four groups: diabetic model group,low-dose Danshensu(15 mg/kg) group,middle-dose Danshensu(30 mg/kg) group and high-dose Danshensu(60 mg/kg) group,with 10 mice in each group.Danshensu(sodium salt of Danshensu) was administered intragastrically once a day for 12 weeks.Ten normal mice were taken as controls.The fasting blood glucose,insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin(GHb) levels were examined at 12 h after the last administration of the drug.The aspartate transaminade(AST) and alanine transaminade(ALT) levels in sera drawn from inner canthus were determined by automatic biochemical analyser.Western blotting analysis was used to examine the expression of STAT1,PPARγ and HGF in the liver tissues.Results(1) Compared with control group,the diabetic model group and Danshensu groups had significantly higher blood glucose and GHb levels(P0.01) and significantly lower insulin level(P0.01).There were no significant differences between the three Danshensu groups concerning the three parameters.(2) The levels of AST and ALT in diabetic model group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P0.05);their levels in the three Danshensu groups were significantly lower than those of the diabetic model group(P0.05);there were no significant differences among the three Danshensu groups.(3) The expression of STAT1 in diabetic model group was significantly higher and the expression of PPARγ and HGF was significantly lower than those in control group(P0.01).Compared with the diabetic model group,PPARγ and HGF expression in the liver tissues was significantly increased and STAT1 expression was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner with Danshensu(P0.01).Conclusion The protective effect of Danshensu on liver tissues in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice might be associated with increase of PPARγ and HGF expression and decrease of STAT1 expression.