The Effects of Chinese Medicine on Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signal Pathway under High Glucose Condition.

Wei Liu,Xiaochun Liang,Dan Yang

doi:10.1155/2015/295135

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and a series of complications. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a complex protein interaction network, which is also a key regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation. Many scholars have found that high glucose can activate the Wnt signaling pathway. However, the effects of activation of this pathway in the presence of high glucose levels during the progression of diabetes still remained unclear. Here, we provide a review of the study on the effects of high glucose state on the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway and the influence of Chinese medicine on it.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a heavy burden for patients worldwide, and the number of affected individuals is growing significantly
This paper provides a review of studies on the effects of the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway in the presence of high glucose levels and the influence of Chinese medicine on it
The results showed that high glucose can induce the increased expression of βcatenin in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells, indicating that high glucose levels can upregulate the expression of β-catenin induced peritoneal injury leading to fibrosis

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a heavy burden for patients worldwide, and the number of affected individuals is growing significantly. Β-catenin is the key factor of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which is a cytosolic protein that is degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome system by glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (Gsk3β) phosphorylation It forms a complex after combining with LEF/TCF and Smad, thereby promoting the latter into the nucleus and regulating the expression of specific target genes. Researches about the effects of this signaling pathway on DM and a series of complications were focused on the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway involved in the regulation of morphological changes and pathogenesis in cells, its effect on high glucose induced cells apoptosis via the promotion of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, its influence on diabetic wound healing, and its effect on the regulation of bone and vascular and other metabolic processes. It has been suggested that sustained Wnt/β-catenin expression is essential for its protective role against cellular damage, while abnormal activation of Wnt/β-catenin results in adverse effects and promotes the progression of DM

Effects of Chinese Medicine on the Pathway

Summary and Prospect