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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2025 , Vol. 45 >Issue 6: 1254 - 1262

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.06.006

Original Articles

Hypoglycemic mechanism of modified Gegen Qinlian decoction (加味葛根芩连汤) based on regulating the expression and DNA methylation of cholesterol transporters in the adipose tissue of type 2 diabetes mellitus rats

  • Shuhong PENG ,
  • Lingkun YANG ,
  • Xinyi LIU ,
  • Mengyu ZHANG ,
  • Seqi LIN ,
  • Changhua ZHANG ,
  • Guoliang XU ,
  • Weifeng ZHU ,
  • Pengcheng YAO
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  • 1 Research Center for Differentiation and Development of TCM Basic Theory, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China
    2 School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China
    3 State Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education, Nanchang 330004, China
    4 Research Center of Natural Resources of Chinese Medicinal Materials and Ethnic Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China

Received date: 2024-11-11

  Accepted date: 2025-03-27

  Online published: 2025-11-24

Supported by

Investigation on the Mechanism of Gegen Qinlian Decoction in Lowering Blood Glucose Based on Improving Cholesterol Homeostasis of Lipid Rafts in Adipocytes(82060741);Cause of “Dampness Stagnating in Pi” in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Overeating High Fat and Sugar Diet Based on Glycerol Transport Which Is Affected by Methylation/Hormones Signal(82160830);Investigation on the Mechanism of Gegen Qinlian Decoction in Lowering Blood Glucose Based on Improving Phosphatidylcholine Biosynthesis in Adipose Tissue(82360799);Relationship between Adipose Tissue and Spleen Image Based on Multivariate Analysis of Modern Literature (No. 2020B0328). Ganpo Juncai-Training Program for Academic and Technical Leaders in Major Disciplines of the Province (Leading Talents-Academic Category)(20232BCJ22022);Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, First-level Discipline of Integrative Medicine (Jiangxi Province Double First-class Discipline)(zxyylxk20220103);Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Innovation Team Development Program(CXTD22007)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypoglycemic mechanism of modified Gegen Qinlian decoction (加味葛根芩连汤，MGQD) by examining its regulation of cholesterol transporter expression and DNA methylation, specifically the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1), in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS: The control group (CON) consisted of ten Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed a standard chow diet, while 80 SD rats were fed a high-fat diet and administered streptozotocin intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. The diabetic rats were randomly assigned to four groups: T2DM, metformin (MET, 200 mg/kg), low-dose MGQD (MGQDL, 5 g/kg), and high-dose MGQD (MGQDH, 10 g/kg), and received treatment via gavage for 14 weeks. Western blot (WB), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) were used to analyze protein levels, mRNA expression, and DNA methylation of Ldlr (gene encoding LDLR) and Srb1(gene encoding SR-B1).

RESULTS: MGQD and metformin treatment significantly reduced blood glucose levels, restored LDLR and SR-B1 protein levels in eWAT, and effectively regulated the mRNA expression and non-cytosine-p-guanine (non-CpG) methylation of Srb1 in eWAT. A significant negative correlation was observed between the methylation of Srb1 in eWAT and its mRNA expression. However, MGQD and metformin had no significant effect on the protein levels, mRNA expression, or DNA methylation of Ldlr and Srb1 in iWAT.

CONCLUSIONS: MGQD did not significantly affect LDLR and SR-B1 expression or gene methylation in iWAT. However, its hypoglycemic effect may be linked to cholesterol regulation in eWAT. Potential mechanisms include increased LDLR protein levels, which may enhance cholesterol uptake, and increased Srb1 methylation, which may suppress its expression and consequently reduce cholesterol efflux.

Key words： diabetes mellitus, type 2; adipose tissue; DNA methylation; receptors, LDL; scavenger receptors, class B; cholesterol transporter; modified Gegen Qinlian decoction

Cite this article

Shuhong PENG , Lingkun YANG , Xinyi LIU , Mengyu ZHANG , Seqi LIN , Changhua ZHANG , Guoliang XU , Weifeng ZHU , Pengcheng YAO . Hypoglycemic mechanism of modified Gegen Qinlian decoction (加味葛根芩连汤) based on regulating the expression and DNA methylation of cholesterol transporters in the adipose tissue of type 2 diabetes mellitus rats[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025 , 45(6) : 1254 -1262 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.06.006

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