Novel Polysaccharide H-1-2 from Pseudostellaria Heterophylla Alleviates Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Background/Aims: To investigate the potential therapeutic effect of novel polysaccharide H-1-2 from pseudostellaria heterophylla against type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and elucidate the underling molecular mechanisms. Methods: Relative expression of HIF1α and Sirt1 in T2DM patients was determined via real-time PCR. The direct binding of HIF1α on Sirt1 promoter was validated by ChIP assay. The inhibitory regulation of Sirt1 by HIF1α was analyzed using luciferase reporter assay. The endogenous protein of HIF1α and Sirt1 in response to H-1-2 treatment was quantified by western blotting. The blood glucose, secreted insulin and serous lipid profiles were measured with ELISA kits. Results: We consolidated that HIF1α and Sirt1 was dysregulated in T2DM patients and subjected to H-1-2 modulation. H-1-2 significantly inhibited hypoxia and up-regulated Sirt1 expression in EndoC-βH1 cells. Accordingly, H-1-2 enhanced glucose-stimulation insulin secretion and improved blood glucose and lipid profiles in T2DM cells, and elevated the glucose and insulin tolerance simultaneously. Furthermore, we demonstrated that H-1-2 alleviated T2DM via inhibition of hypoxia and up-regulation of Sirt1 in isolated pancreatic β-cells from T2DM rats. Conclusion: Our data unambiguously demonstrated H-1-2 administration alleviated T2DM by enhancing Sirt1 expression through inhibition of hypoxia.