Verbascoside Protects Pancreatic ?-Cells against ER-Stress.

ABSTRACT: Substantial epidemiological evidence indicates that a diet rich in polyphenols protects against developing type 2 diabetes. The phenylethanoid glycoside verbascoside/acteoside, a widespread polyphenolic plant compound, has several biological properties including strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. The aim of this research was to test the possible effects of verbascoside on pancreatic ?-cells, a target never tested before. Mouse and human ?-cells were incubated with verbascoside (0.8-16 µM) for up to five days and a combination of biochemical and imaging techniques were used to assess the ?-cell survival and function under normal or endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress inducing conditions. We found a dose-dependent protective effect of verbascoside against oxidative stress in clonal and human ?-cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that the polyphenol protects ?-cells against ER-stress mediated dysfunctions, modulating the activation of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) branch of the unfolded protein response and promoting mitochondrial dynamics. As a result, increased viability, mitochondrial function and insulin content were detected in these cells. These studies provide the evidence that verbascoside boosts the ability of ?-cells to cope with ER-stress, an important contributor of ?-cell dysfunction and failure in diabetic conditions and support the therapeutic potential of verbascoside in diabetes.

SUBMITTER: Galli A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7762434 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature