Compositional analysis and biological characterization of Cornus officinalis on human 1.1B4 pancreatic β cells

• Published in: Molecular and cellular endocrinology 2019-08, Vol.494, p.110491-110491, Article 110491
• Main Authors: Sharp-Tawfik, Arielle E., Coiner, Alexis M., MarElia, Catherine B., Kazantzis, Melissa, Zhang, Clare, Burkhardt, Brant R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell Line; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Respiration - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cornus - chemistry; Cornus offinicalis; Cytokines - pharmacology; Glycolysis - drug effects; Humans; Insulin-Secreting Cells - drug effects; Insulin-Secreting Cells - metabolism; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - metabolism; NFAT; NFATC Transcription Factors - metabolism; Pancreatic beta cells; Phenotype; Phytochemicals - chemistry; Phytochemicals - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Th1 Cells - drug effects; Time Factors; Traditional Chinese medicine; Transcriptome - genetics; Type 1 diabetes; Up-Regulation - drug effects
• ISSN: 0303-7207; 1872-8057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110491

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease resulting from the loss of pancreatic β cells and subsequent insulin production. Novel interventional therapies are urgently needed that can protect existing β cells from cytokine-induced death and enhance their function before symptomatic onset. Our initial evidence is suggesting that bioactive ingredients within Cornus officinalis (CO) may be able to serve in this function. CO has been extensively used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and reported to possess both anti-inflammatory and pro-metabolic effects. We hypothesize that CO treatment may provide a future potential candidate for interventional therapy for early stage T1D prior to significant β cell loss. Our data demonstrated that CO can inhibit cytokine-mediated β cell death, increase cell viability and oxidative capacity, and increase expression of NFATC2 (Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells, Cytoplasmic 2). We have also profiled the bioactive components in CO from multiple sources by HPLC/MS (High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) analysis. Altogether, CO significantly increases the energy metabolism of β cells while inducing the NFAT pathway to signal for increased proliferation and endocrine function. •CO rescued the 1.1B4 β cell line from Th1 cytokine-induced apoptosis.•Basal and maximal oxidative phosphorylation was significantly increased upon rapid treatment of CO.•As determined by RNA-Seq, CO increased expression of NFATC2 and a decrease in ID1 and ID3.•HPLC/MS analysis revealed potential bioactive compounds such as morroniside, loganin, sweroside, and cornuside II.•The proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties of CO provide a potential therapy for future T1D intervention.