α-Pinene, a Main Component of <i>Pinus</i> Essential Oils, Enhances the Expression of Insulin-Sensitive Glucose Transporter Type 4 in Murine Skeletal Muscle Cells
Glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) represents the major glucose transporter isoform responsible for glucose uptake into insulin-sensitive cells, primarily in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. In insulin-resistant conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, GLUT4 expression and/or translocation to th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/2/1252 |
| Summary: | Glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) represents the major glucose transporter isoform responsible for glucose uptake into insulin-sensitive cells, primarily in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. In insulin-resistant conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, GLUT4 expression and/or translocation to the cell plasma membrane is reduced, compromising cell energy metabolism. Therefore, the use of synthetic or naturally occurring molecules able to stimulate GLUT4 expression represents a good tool for alternative treatments of insulin resistance. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of essential oils (EOs) derived from <i>Pinus</i> spp. (<i>P. nigra</i> and <i>P. radiata</i>) and of their main terpenoid constituents (α- and β-pinene) on the expression/translocation of GLUT4 in myoblast C2C12 murine cells. For this purpose, the chemical profiles of the EOs were first analyzed through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, and GLUT4 expression/translocation was evaluated through RT-qPCR and flow cytometry analyses. The results showed that only the <i>P. nigra</i> essential oil (PnEO) and α-pinene can increase the transcription of the <i>Glut4/Scl2a4</i> gene, resulting in a subsequent increase in the amount of GLUT4 produced and its plasma membrane localization. Moreover, the PnEO or α-pinene can induce <i>Glut4</i> expression both during myogenesis and in myotubes. In summary, the PnEO and α-pinene emulate insulin’s effect on the GLUT4 transporter expression and its translocation to the muscle cell surface. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |