The Hypoglycemic Activity of Gracilaria lemaneiformis Polysaccharide Gels Based on IR/IRS-2/PI3k/Akt/Glut4 and Glycometabolism Signaling Pathways in HepG2 Cells
The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic activity and mechanism of <i>G. lemaneiformis</i> polysaccharide gels (GLP and GLP-HV) based on IR/IRS-2/PI3k/Akt/Glut4 and glycometabolism signaling pathways in HepG2 cells. After H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-Vc degradation, the molecular weight of <i>G. lemaneiformis</i> polysaccharide gel declined from 1478 kDa to 16 kDa. Molecular weight chromatogram and distribution indicated that GLP-HV had a high molecular weight homogeneity compared to GLP. <i>G. lemaneiformis</i> polysaccharide gels significantly decreased the TC, TG, LDL-C, MDA, and LDH contents and enhanced the activities of HDL-C, T-AOC, CAT, GSH-PX, SOD, insulin, and glycogen in HepG2 cells. Fluorescent staining results showed that <i>G. lemaneiformis</i> polysaccharide gels reduced ROS and calcium ions levels in HepG2 cells. GLP and GLP-HV displayed excellent hypoglycemic activity, with GLP-HV performing better. Furthermore, qPCR and Western blot analysis revealed that <i>G. lemaneiformis</i> polysaccharide gels remarkably strengthened the levels of IR, IRS-2, PI3K, Akt, Glut4, HK, G6PD, PFK, PEPCK, GK, PK genes, and proteins. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the IR/IRS-2/PI3k/Akt/Glut4 signaling pathway played a dominant role in regulating activity. These results show that <i>G. lemaneiformis</i> polysaccharide gels present a prominent hypoglycemic effect mediated by the IR/IRS-2/PI3k/Akt/Glut4 and glycometabolism signaling pathways, with the former playing a dominant role.
Authors
- Shaoling Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9754-5485)
- Chuang Pan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7870-4484)
- Shengjun Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0841-3857)
- Xiao Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1128-4099)
- Yongqiang Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8729-9583)
- Bo Qi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5237-4974)
- Shucheng Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1775-8470)
- Xianqing Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7240-2613)
- Xiaoshan Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7184-9525)
- Peihong Jiang
- Ya Wei
Institutions
- Sanya University (CN)
- Shandong Institute of Commerce & Technology (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CN)
- Guangdong Ocean University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Gels
- Published
- 2025-05-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050366
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.24
Funders
- Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province
- Guangdong Ocean University
- National Key Research and Development Program of China
- Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences