Dihydromyricetin Ameliorates Inflammation-Induced Insulin Resistance via Phospholipase C-CaMKK-AMPK Signal Pathway
Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome is associated with obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance. Patients with metabolic syndrome have a higher risk of turning into type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The metabolic syndrome has become an urgent public health problem. Insulin resistance in obesity is the common pathophysiological basis of metabolic syndrome. The insulin resistance is induced by the increasing levels of inflammatory factors during obesity. Therefore, developing a therapeutic strategy for preventing inflammation-induced insulin resistance has great significance for the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Dihydromyricetin, as a bioactive polyphenol, has been used for anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and improving insulin sensitivity. However, the target of DHM and the molecular mechanism of DHM in preventing inflammation-induced insulin resistance are still unclear. Methods In this study, we first confirmed the role of dihydromyricetin in inflammation-induced insulin resistance through ELISA, oral glucose tolerance test and glucose uptake test. Then, we demonstrated the pathway of dihydromyricetin ameliorated inflammation-induced insulin resistance by using signal pathway blockers, Ca2 + probes, and immunofluorescence. Finally, we clarified the target protein of dihydromyricetin by using drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay, qPCR, and western blotting. Results In this study, we first confirmed that dihydromyricetin ameliorated inflammation-induced insulin resistance in vivo and in vitro. Then, we demonstrated that dihydromyricetin ameliorated inflammation-induced insulin resistance by activating Ca2+-CaMKK-AMPK signal pathway. Finally, we clarified that dihydromyricetin activated Ca2+-CaMKK-AMPK signaling pathway by interacting with phospholipase C (PLC), its target protein. Conclusions Our results not only demonstrated that dihydromyricetin ameliorated inflammation-induced insulin resistance via the PLC-CaMKK-AMPK signal pathway but also discovered that the target protein of dihydromyricetin is PLC. Our results provided experimental data for the development of dihydromyricetin as a functional food additive and a new therapeutic strategy for treating or preventing insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.