db/db小鼠的实验室应用

db/db小鼠为广泛应用的2型糖尿病动物模型,由瘦素受体(leptin receptor,Lepr)的自发性突变引起极度肥胖、多食、消渴、多尿。其表型的严重程度受基因背景的影响,在C57BLKS/J背景下更严重。Lepr还在其它多个位点发生自发性突变,产生一系列肥胖动物,包括db3J/db3J小鼠、db5J/db5J小鼠、dbpas/dbpas小鼠、Zucker fa/fa大鼠和Koletsky fak/fak大鼠等。这些啮齿动物在食欲旺盛和严重肥胖方面表型相似,但在血糖、肾脏损伤及生殖能力等方面的表型不尽相同,为探讨Lepr的复杂功能提供了丰富的素材。本文将就瘦素信号通路的发现史,db/db小鼠在代谢、生殖、免疫等方面的异常表型,其实验室应用、繁殖与鉴定策略,其它自发性突变动物的表型差异及对应的Lepr突变模式等进行较全面的综述。     

Endothelium in Spots – High-Content Imaging of Lipid Rafts Clusters in db/db Mice

Lipid rafts (LRs) are dynamic, sterol- and sphingolipid-enriched nanodomains involved in the regulation of cellular functions and signal transduction, that upon stimuli, via (e.g. association of raft proteins and lipids), may cluster into domains of submicron or micron scale. Up to date, however, lipid raft clusters were observed only under artificially promoted conditions and their formation in vivo has not been confirmed. Using non-destructive approach involving Raman and Atomic Force Microscopy imaging we demonstrated the presence of clustered lipid rafts in endothelium of the aorta of the db/db mice that represent a reliable murine model of type 2 diabetes. The raft clusters in the aorta of diabetic mice were shown to occupy a considerably larger (about 10-fold) area of endothelial cells surface as compared to the control. Observation of pathology-promoted LRs confirms that the cellular increase of lipid content results in clustering of LRs. Clustering of LRs leads to the formation of assemblies with diameters up to 3 micrometers and increased lipid character. This massive clustering of lipid rafts in diabetes may trigger a signaling cascade leading to vascular inflammation.     

The rate of degradation of liver glycogen phosphorylase is specifically decreased in the C57BL/KsJ — db/db mouse

Summary We have recently demonstrated that the activity of liver glycogen phosphorylase, the rate-limiting enzyme of glycogenolysis, is elevated in genetically diabetic (db/db) mouse and that it is primarily due to the presence of increased amounts of this enzyme. In the present study, we examined the turnover of glycogen phosphorylase in vivo in order to elucidate the mechanism for this specific increase. The rate of phosphorylase synthesis was slightly decreased in the diabetic mouse compared to controls. However, the relative rates of synthesis were similar in these two groups. The rate of degradation of this enzyme was decreased 20% (p<0.05) in the diabetic mouse compared to controls. More importantly, the relative rate of degradation of phosphorylase was found to be lower in the diabetic animals. This indicates that the elevated concentration of phosphorylase in the liver of the db/db mouse is likely due to a specific decrease in its rate of degradation.     

Ultra-structural study of insulin granules in pancreatic β-cells of db/db mouse by scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography

Insulin granule trafficking is a key step in the secretion of glucose-stimulated insulin from pancreatic β-cells. The main feature of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the failure of pancreatic β-cells to secrete sufficient amounts of insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels. In this work, we developed and applied tomography based on scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to image intact insulin granules in the β-cells of mouse pancreatic islets. Using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, we found decreases in both the number and the grey level of insulin granules in db/db mouse pancreatic β-cells. Moreover, insulin granules were closer to the plasma membrane in diabetic β-cells than in control cells. Thus, 3D ultra-structural tomography may provide new insights into the pathology of insulin secretion in T2D.     

Effect of alogliptin, pioglitazone and glargine on pancreatic β-cells in diabetic db/db mice

Objective: Progressive β-cell dysfunction and loss of β-cell mass are fundamental pathogenic features of type 2 diabetes. To examine if anti-diabetic reagents, such as insulin, pioglitazone (pio), and alogliptin (alo), have protective effects on β-cell mass and function in vivo, we treated obese diabetic db/db mice with these reagents. Methods: Male db/db mice were treated with a chow including pio, alo, or both of them from 8 to 16 weeks of age. Insulin glargine (gla) was daily injected subcutaneously during the same period. Results: At 16 weeks of age, untreated db/db mice revealed marked increase of HbA1c level, whereas those treated with pio, pio + alo, or insulin revealed the almost same HbA1c levels as non-diabetic db/m mice. Islet mass evaluated by direct counting in the whole pancreas and insulin content in isolated islets were preserved in pio, pio + alo and gla groups compared with untreated or alo groups, and there was no difference among pio, pio + alo and gla groups. To precisely evaluate islet β-cell functions, islet perifusion analysis was performed. In pio, pio + alo and gla groups, biphasic insulin secretion was preserved compared with untreated or alo groups. In particular, pio + alo as well as gla therapy preserved almost normal insulin secretion, although pio therapy improved partially. To examine the mechanism how these reagents exerted beneficial effects on β-cells, we evaluated expression levels of various factors which are potentially important for β-cell functions by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that expression levels of MafA and GLP-1 receptor were markedly decreased in untreated and alo groups, but not in pio, pio + alo and gla groups. Conclusion: Combination therapy with pio and alo almost completely normalized β-cell functions in vivo, which was comparable with gla treatment.     

C-Fos在db/db自发性糖尿病小鼠颌下腺的表达

目的观察转基因糖尿病小鼠下颌下腺形态学改变与原癌基因C-fos蛋白表达的关系,为糖尿病的临床及基础研究提供依据。方法引进日本C57BL/ksj-db/ m表型正常隐性基因小鼠,其近亲交配所得纯合子后代,即为db/db(单基因遗传自然发病型)糖尿病小鼠。取3、4、6、8、10月龄db/db糖尿病小鼠及相应月龄的db/ m正常小鼠下颌下腺,行HE染色及SP免疫组化染色后进行图象分析,统计各组下颌下腺C-fos阳性表达的细胞数,观察其形态学改变。结果糖尿病小鼠下颌下腺腺泡萎缩,细胞缩小,形态不规则,排列不整齐。各月龄糖尿病小鼠颌下腺C-Fos阳性细胞明显低于相应对照组(P<0.01),且逐渐减少,呈下降趋势。结论db/db糖尿病状态下颌下腺细胞表达C-Fos蛋白明显降低,c-fos低表达可能与下颌下腺实质细胞的增殖减弱性形态学变化密切相关。     

姜黄素对db/db小鼠基因组DNA甲基化的影响

目的:观察姜黄素对2型糖尿病模型db/db小鼠糖尿病症状的改善作用,并从表观遗传角度分析其对小鼠外周血DNA甲基化水平的影响。方法:2型糖尿病模型db/db小鼠随机分为糖尿病组和姜黄素干预组(给予250 mg/kg姜黄素溶液),连续灌胃8周。OGTT检测葡萄糖耐量,ELISA法测定空腹胰岛素并计算HOMA-IR和HOMA-β,RRBS技术检测外周血基因组DNA甲基化水平。结果:与糖尿病组相比,姜黄素干预小鼠的血糖、空腹胰岛素和HOMA-IR显著降低,葡萄糖耐量显著改善(P<0.05);且小鼠外周血基因组启动子区、CGI岸和5’-非编码区CpG甲基化水平显著降低(P<0.05);对两组间差异甲基化基因进行功能富集分析,筛选出前10位显著富集的可能与2型糖尿病相关的差异基因包括Hdac7、Micall1、Vangl2、Dhcr24、Kcnj8、Gnas、Tcf7l2、Dgkh、Dlgap1和Plekhg4。结论:姜黄素能够改善db/db小鼠的葡萄糖耐量及胰岛素抵抗,并且其外周血中存在显著低甲基化改变,提示姜黄素可能是通过抑制糖尿病小鼠中某些基因的异常甲基化修饰而发挥抗糖尿病作用。     

树豆酮酸A可减轻db/db小鼠非酒精性脂肪肝损伤

非酒精性脂肪性肝病(nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD)是指肝中储存过多的脂肪,与肥胖、胰岛素抵抗、2型糖尿病(type-2 diabetes mellitus, T2DM)、血脂异常等代谢综合征密切相关。肝纤维化是NAFLD进一步发展为肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC)的关键过程,减少肝内的脂肪积累,从而延缓或阻止NAFLD向纤维化的进展是治疗的关键。树豆酮酸A(cajanonic acid A, CAA)在2型糖尿病中能够有效改善胰岛素抵抗,发挥降糖减脂作用。本研究旨在探究CAA对NAFLD肝损伤的保护作用。通过采用db/db自发性NAFLD小鼠模型,将db/db小鼠分为NAFLD组和CAA给药组,CAA组予50 mg/(kg·d)灌胃给药,同期C57BL小鼠作为正常对照组(NC组),每组6只。小鼠生化指标检测和组织病理染色发现,CAA干预可有效缓解db/db小鼠的糖脂代谢紊乱、肝功能损伤(P<0.05)及肝脂肪变性和减少脂质沉积(P<0.05)。ELISA法结果显示,经过CAA治疗后肝组织...     

驼乳源益生菌对db/db鼠肠道菌群的调节作用

摘要：目的 探究驼乳来源复合益生菌对db/db鼠血糖及肠道菌群的调节作用。方法 将60只db/db鼠随机分为5组,每组12只,分别为模型组、二甲双胍组、利拉鲁肽组、低剂量复合益生菌组和高剂量复合益生菌组,12只C57BL/Ks小鼠为正常对照组。阳性药组分别灌胃0.3 mg/g二甲双胍及皮下注射0.2 μg/g利拉鲁肽,低剂量复合益生菌组灌胃乳酸菌1.0×108 CFU/d和酵母菌1.0×106 CFU/d,高剂量复合益生菌组灌胃乳酸菌1.0×1010 CFU/d和酵母菌1.0×108 CFU/d,其他组灌胃生理盐水。血糖仪检测空腹血糖（FBG）及不同时间段血糖水平。ELISA法检测糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）含量。实时荧光定量PCR检测粪便菌群含量。结果 与模型组相比,低、高剂量复合益生菌组FBG水平明显减少,改善葡萄糖耐受（OGTT）能力,降低HbA1c含量。与模型组相比,低、高剂量复合益生菌组显著降低厚壁菌门、放线菌门和大肠埃希菌属水平,增加拟杆菌门、乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属水平,但对总菌与梭杆菌属无影响。结论 驼乳来源复合益生菌可通过调节肠道菌群降低db/db鼠血糖含量。     

Combination of Active Components of Xiexin Decoction Ameliorates Renal Fibrosis Through the Inhibition of NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad Pathways in db/db Diabetic Mice

Xiexin decoction, a herbal therapeutic agent commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, is recognized for its beneficial effects on diabetic nephropathy exerted through the combined action of multiple components, including Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids (A), Radix et Rhizoma Rhei polysaccharides (P), and Radix Scutellaria flavones (F). Our previous studies have shown that a combination of A, P, and F (APF) exhibits renoprotective effects against diabetic nephropathy. This study was aimed at determining the effects of APF on renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms. To evaluate the effects of APF, in vivo, db/db diabetic mice were orally administered a low or high dose of APF (300 or 600 mg/kg, respectively) once a day for 8 weeks. We evaluated the blood and urine indices of metabolic and renal function, renal tissue histopathology, renal inflammation, and fibrosis. APF treatment significantly ameliorated glucose and lipid metabolism dysfunction, decreased urinary albumin excretion, normalized creatinine clearance, and reduced the morphological changes in renal tissue. Additionally, APF administration in db/db diabetic mice reduced the elevated levels of renal inflammation mediators such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and active nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). APF treatment also reduced type I and IV collagen, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and TGF-β1 type II receptor expression levels, and decreased the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 in the kidneys of db/db diabetic mice. These results suggest that APF reduces renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy through the NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathways. In vitro, APF treatment reduced cell proliferation and protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin, collagen I, TGF-β1 and NF-κB in mesangial cells cultured with high glucose concentrations. Our findings indicate that treatment with multi-component herbal therapeutic formulations may be a useful approach for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.     

虾青素对db/db小鼠糖尿病肾病的保护作用

目的：采用2型糖尿病模型db/db小鼠,观察虾青素对糖尿病肾病的保护作用。方法：db/db小鼠糖尿病肾病模型成模后随机分为：模型对照组、氯沙坦组、虾青素低剂量组、虾青素高剂量组进行干预。同窝db/m小鼠作为正常对照。其中,氯沙坦组、虾青素低剂量组、虾青素高剂量组分别采用氯沙坦10 mg/（kg·d）BW、虾青素30 mg/（kg·d）BW、虾青素60 mg/（kg·d）BW进行灌胃,氯沙坦与虾青素均用橄榄油溶解,正常对照组与模型对照组灌胃等量橄榄油。干预8w后,检测其空腹血糖、OGTT、24 h尿白蛋白、尿ACR、肌酐、尿素氮等指标。结果：低剂量虾青素对糖耐量无不良影响,并能显著降低血清尿素氮、尿蛋白、尿ACR水平。结论：低剂量虾青素具有肾脏保护作用,但不具有剂量依赖性。     

db/db小鼠糖尿病肾病相关基因的分析和克隆

用GM-U74A基因芯片分别检测了正常对照组（db/m小鼠）、糖尿病肾病组（db/db小鼠）、大黄酸治疗组（大黄酸150 mg/kg治疗12周）肾脏基因表达谱.发现在12 437个基因（包括表达序列标签）中,与正常对照组相比,糖尿病肾病组有1 085个基因表达下调,37个基因表达上调,其中变化幅度大于2倍,表达下调的有166个和表达上调的有29个.与糖尿病肾病组相比,大黄酸治疗组有384个基因表达下调,155个表达上调,其中变化幅度大于2倍,表达下调的有47个和表达上调的有30个.在此基础上,对其中的一个差异表达的表达序列标签(EST)进行了详细的生物信息学分析,发现它是一个未知功能基因——“REKEN cDNA 0610006H10”基因的一部分.在用RT-PCR进一步验证了其与糖尿病肾病的相关性后,对“REKEN cDNA 0610006H10”基因进行了克隆.     

核桃低聚肽对db/db小鼠血糖的影响作用研究

目的：研究核桃低聚肽（walnut oligopeptides,WOPs）干预对db/db糖尿病模型小鼠血糖的影响作用。方法：选择db/db糖尿病小鼠模型,将其随机分为3个核桃低聚肽组（220、440、880mg/kg·BW）、糖尿病模型对照组、二甲双胍对照组、乳清蛋白对照组;并选用db/m小鼠作为非糖尿病小鼠空白对照。经过为期6周的干预,检测小鼠空腹血糖、餐后血糖以及糖耐量实验血糖曲线下面积。结果：核桃低聚肽（880mg/kg·BW）可降低db/db糖尿病小鼠空腹血糖水平和餐后血糖水平,同时能有效改善糖耐量（P＜0.05）。结论：核桃低聚肽干预可有效降低糖尿病小鼠的血糖水平,改善糖耐量,具有辅助降血糖功能。     

硫辛酸合成酶在Lepr~(db/db)小鼠肝肾中的表达

目的检测瘦素受体缺陷的Lepr~(db/db)小鼠体内肝、肾中硫辛酸合成酶(LIAS)的表达。方法分别选取10周龄Lepr~(db/+)与Lepr~(db/db)雄性小鼠各8只,禁食8 h后,测量两组小鼠体重及空腹血糖(FPG);用乙醚麻醉动物,经腹主动脉采血,处死动物,取肝、肾并称重。取肝右叶和左肾经4%多聚甲醛固定,进行肝、肾组织病理学检查。分离血清,用试剂盒检测血清中CHO、TG、HDL、LDL含量。应用线粒体分离试剂盒分离肝、肾组织线粒体,提取总蛋白,采用western blot方法检测LIAS蛋白的表达。结果组织病理观察,发现Lepr~(db/+)小鼠肝肾结构完整,而Lepr~(db/db)小鼠肝细胞出现脂肪变性,肾小球肥大,基底膜增厚,系膜区增宽;与Lepr~(db/+)小鼠比较,Lepr~(db/db)小鼠体重、GLU、CHO、TG、LDL及AST明显增高,差异有显著性(P0.05);与Lepr~(db/+)小鼠比较,Lepr~(db/db)小鼠肝肾线粒体内LIAS蛋白表达量均增高,差异有显著性(P0.05)。结论瘦素受体缺陷的Lepr~(db/db)小鼠存在糖脂代谢紊乱、肝肾细胞损伤、肝肾组织线粒体LIAS蛋白的表达增高。     

松果菊苷对db/db糖尿病小鼠心肌的保护作用

糖尿病心肌病（diabetic cardiomyopathy, DCM）是指发生于糖尿病患者,不能用冠心病、高血压性心脏病及其他心脏病变来解释的心肌疾病。目前,DCM的病因和发病机制尚未完全阐明,且缺乏特异性治疗手段。中药管花肉苁蓉提取物松果菊苷（echinacoside, ECH）对心肌细胞具有保护作用。以db/m小鼠为正常对照组（db/m组）,db/db小鼠分为模型组（db/db组）和ECH干预组（db/db+ECH组）,探讨了ECH对糖尿病db/db小鼠心肌的影响及机制。db/db+ECH组小鼠给予松果菊苷灌胃,db/m组和db/db组小鼠给予0.9%氯化钠溶液灌胃。心脏超声观察心脏功能,Masson染色观察组织胶原纤维含量,逆转录聚合酶链式反应检测Ⅰ型胶原和Ⅲ型胶原mRNA的表达,蛋白质免疫印迹技术检测转化生长因子-β1（transforming growth factor-β1, TGF-β1）、phospho-Smad2（p-Smad2）和phospho-Smad3（p-Smad3）的表达。结果显示,ECH能够改善db/db小鼠左心室肥大和心脏功能,降低胶原沉积（P<0.05）。ECH能够降低Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原mRNA的表达（P<0.01）,下调TGF-β1、p-Smad2和p-Smad3蛋白的表达（P<0.05）。ECH对糖尿病心肌的保护作用可能与负反馈调节TGF-β1/Smads信号通路相关,研究结果为DCM的早期干预提供了新思路。     

葡萄籽原花青素对db/db小鼠肾组织脂质沉积的影响

该文观察了葡萄籽原花青素(grape seed proanthocyanidin extract,GSPE)对db/db小鼠肾组织脂质沉积的影响。16只雄性db/db小鼠随机分为糖尿病肾病模型组(db/db,n=8)和葡萄籽原花青素治疗组(db/db+GSPE,n=8);16只雄性db/m小鼠随机分为正常对照组(db/m,n=8)和葡萄籽原花青素治疗对照组(db/m+GSPE,n=8)。治疗8周后,血尿半自动生化仪检测小鼠空腹血糖(fasting blood-glucose,FBG)、血尿素氮(blood urea nitrogen,BUN)、血肌酐(serum creatinine,Scr)、总甘油三酯(total triglycerides,TG)、总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)及尿白蛋白(urinary albumin excretion,UAE)的变化;Western blot及Real-time PCR检测固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1(sterol regulatory element binding protein-1,SREBP-1)、脂肪酸合成酶(fatty acid synthase,FASN)、乙酰Co A羧化酶(acetylCo A carboxylase,ACC)、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体α(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα,PPARα)、肉毒碱棕榈酰转移酶1(carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1,CPT1)及脂酰辅酶A氧化酶1(acylcoenzyme aoxidase 1,ACOX1)蛋白及m RNA的表达水平;电镜及油红O染色观察小鼠肾组织脂滴形成情况。结果显示,GSPE干预能够降低db/db小鼠FBG、BUN、Scr、TG、TC及UAE的水平,抑制肾小管上皮细胞内的脂滴形成及脂肪酸合成,同时促进脂肪酸的β氧化。GSPE能抑制db/db小鼠肾组织脂质沉积,主要通过抑制脂肪酸合成及增加脂肪酸β氧化实现的。     

DC260126: A Small-Molecule Antagonist of GPR40 that Protects against Pancreatic β-Cells Dysfunction in db/db Mice

G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) mediates both acute and chronic effects of free fatty acids (FFAs) on insulin secretion. However, it remains controversial whether inhibition of GPR40 would be beneficial in prevention of type 2 diabetes. This study is designed to evaluate the potential effects of DC260126, a small molecule antagonist of GPR40, on β-cell function following administration of 10 mg/kg dose of DC260126 to obese diabetic db/db mice. Oral glucose tolerance test, glucose stimulated insulin secretion and insulin tolerance test were used to investigate the pharmacological effects of DC260126 on db/db mice after 21-days treatment. Immunohistochemistry and serum biochemical analysis were also performed in this study. Although no significant change of blood glucose levels was found in DC260126-treated mice, DC260126 significantly inhibited glucose stimulated insulin secretion, reduced blood insulin level and improved insulin sensitivity after 3 weeks administration in db/db mice. Moreover, DC260126 reduced the proinsulin/insulin ratio and the apoptotic rate of pancreatic β-cells remarkably in DC260126-treated db/db mice compared to vehicle-treated mice (p<0.05, n = 8). The results suggest that although DC260126 could not provide benefit for improving hyperglycemia, it could protect against pancreatic β-cells dysfunction through reducing overload of β-cells, and it increases insulin sensitivity possibly via alleviation of hyperinsulinemia in db/db mice.