Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 1206-1217.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.05.014
• Original Articles • Previous Articles Next Articles
ZHU Meilin1, DU Jianpeng2, LUO Yunpeng3, LIU Yunlu4, NIU Zenghui4, LAN Tian1, YANG Jing4, CHEN Zhuhong1(
)
Received:2025-04-04
Accepted:2026-01-27
Online:2026-10-15
Published:2026-10-09
Contact:
CHEN Zhuhong, Department of Endocrinology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China. 13264214919@163.com,Telephone: +86-17852938921
Supported by:ZHU Meilin, DU Jianpeng, LUO Yunpeng, LIU Yunlu, NIU Zenghui, LAN Tian, YANG Jing, CHEN Zhuhong. Jiangtang Xiaozhi formula (降糖消脂方) alleviates type 2 diabetes mellitus by improving islet beta-cell dedifferentiation: a network pharmacology-based study[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026, 46(5): 1206-1217.
Figure 1 Network pharmacology analysis A: venn diagram of overlapping targets of T2DM, Islet beta-cell dedifferentiation and JTXZF; B: PPI network of 93 overlapping genes of T2DM, Islet beta-cell dedifferentiation and JTXZF; C: regarding the drug-component-target network of JTXZF in relation to T2DM and beta-cell dedifferentiation. T2DM: type 2 diabetes mellitus; PPI: protein-protein interaction; JTXZF: Jiangtang Xiaozhi formula.
Figure 2 Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 signaling pathway mediates PA-induced islet beta-cell dedifferentiation A: Min6 cells were cultured in 3 and 25 mM glucose before measuring insulin concentrations of the supernatant using a commercial ELISA kit; B: densitometric quantification of Western blot bands for PDX1, Oct-4 and NEUROG3, normalized to β-Actin; C: densitometric quantification of Western blot bands for p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-FoxO1/FoxO1, normalized to β-Actin; D: PDX1 expression in Min6 cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining; D1, D2, D4, D5: original magnification, × 200; scale bar = 100 μm; D3, D6: original magnification, × 400; scale bar = 50 μm; E: Oct-4 expression in Min6 cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining; E1, E2, E4, E5: original magnification, × 200; scale bar = 100 μm; E3, E6: original magnification, × 400; scale bar = 50 μm; F: NEURGO3 expression in Min6 cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining; F1, F2, F4, F5: original magnification, × 200; scale bar = 100 μm; F3, F6: original magnification, × 400; scale bar = 50 μm; G: fluorescence intensity for PDX1, Oct-4 and NEUROG3; D1, D2, D3, E1, E2, E3, F1, F2, F3: Control group; D4, D5, D6, E4, E5, E6, F4, F5, F6: PA group. Control group: normal group; PA group: cells were treated with 0.3 mM palmitic acid for 24 h. PA: palmitic acid; PDX1: pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1; Oct-4: octamer-binding transcription factor 4; NEUROG3: neurogenin 3; p-PI3K/PI3K: phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/total phosphoinositide 3-kinase; p-AKT/AKT: phosphorylated protein kinase B/total protein kinase B; p-FoxO1/FoxO1: phosphorylated forkhead box O1/total forkhead box O1. Statistical comparisons between two groups were conducted using unpaired t-tests, while multiple group comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s test for pairwise multiple comparisons. All data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 3). aP < 0.05 vs respective Control.
Figure 3 JTXZF alleviates PA-induced dysfunction and dedifferentiation in Min6 cells via the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway A: Min6 cells were cultured in 3 and 25 mM glucose before measuring insulin concentrations of the supernatant using a commercial ELISA kit; B: protein electrophoresis of PDX1, Oct-4, NEUROG3 and PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 signaling molecule; C: densitometric quantification of Western blot bands for p-PI3K/PI3K, normalized to β-Actin; D: densitometric quantification of Western blot bands for p-AKT/AKT, normalized to β-actin. E: densitometric quantification of Western blot bands for p-FoxO1/FoxO1, normalized to β-Actin. control group: normal group; PA group: cells were treated with 0.3 mM palmitic acid for 24 h; negative control group: PA-treated cells received 20% blank serum for 24 h; JTXZF group: PA-treated cells received 20% JTXZF-containing serum for 24 h; J + L group: Cells were treated with 0.3 mM PA, 20% Jiangtang Xiaozhi formula-containing serum, and 5 μM PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 24 h; Metformin group: Cells were treated with 0.3 mM PA and 200 μM metformin. PA: palmitic acid; JTXZF: Jiangtang Xiaozhi formula; J + L: JTXZF + PI3K inhibitor LY294002; PDX1: pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1; Oct-4: octamer-binding transcription factor 4; NEUROG3: neurogenin 3; p-PI3K/PI3K: phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/total phosphoinositide 3-kinase; p-AKT/AKT: phosphorylated protein kinase B/total protein kinase B; p-FoxO1/FoxO1: phosphorylated forkhead box O1/total forkhead box O1.Statistical comparisons between two groups were conducted using unpaired t-tests, while multiple group comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s test for pairwise multiple comparisons. All data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 3). aP < 0.05 vs respective Control; bP < 0.05 vs respective PA.
Figure 4 JTXZF upregulates IGF-1 to activate the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating PA-induced dysfunction and dedifferentiation in MIN6 cells A: the Min6 cells expression of IGF-1 mRNA quantified by RT-qPCR; B: Min6 cells were cultured in 3 and 25mM glucose before measuring insulin concentrations of the supernatant using a commercial ELISA kit; C: fluorescence intensity for IGF-1; D: IGF-1 expression in Min6 cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining; D1, D2, D4, D5, D7, D8, D10, D11: original magnification, ×200; scale bar = 100 μm; D3, D6, D9, D12: original magnification, × 400; scale bar = 50 μm; E: protein electrophoresis of IGF-1, and PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 signaling molecule; F: densitometric quantification of Western blot bands for IGF-1, normalized to β-Actin; G: densitometric quantification of Western blot bands for p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-FoxO1/FoxO1, normalized to β-Actin; D1, D2, D3: Control group; D4, D5, D6: PA group; D7, D8, D9: JTXZF group; D10, D11, D12: J + si-IGF-1 group. Control group: normal group; PA group: cells were treated with 0.3 mM palmitic acid for 24 h; JTXZF group: PA-treated cells received 20% Jiangtang Xiaozhi formula -containing serum for 24 h; J + si-IGF-1 group: Cells were treated with 0.3 mM PA and 20% JTXZF-containing serum and transfected with small interfering RNA targeting IGF-1 for 24 h. PA: palmitic acid; JTXZF: Jiangtang Xiaozhi formula; J + si-IGF-1: JTXZF + IGF-1 inhibitor group; IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor 1; p-PI3K/PI3K: phos-phorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/total phosphoinositide 3-kinase; p-AKT/AKT: phosphorylated protein kinase B/total protein kinase B; p-FoxO1/FoxO1: phosphorylated forkhead box O1/total forkhead box O1; RT-qPCR: real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Statistical comparisons between two groups were conducted using unpaired t-tests, while multiple group comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s test for pairwise multiple comparisons. All data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 3). aP < 0.05 vs respective Control; bP < 0.05 vs respective PA.
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