Title:Curcumin Reverts the Protein Differential Expression in the Liver of the
Diabetic Obese db/db Mice
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Oscar Gerardo Silva-Gaona, Juan Manuel Guzmán-Flores, Magdalena Hernández-Ortiz, Katya Vargas-Ortiz, Joel Ramírez-Emiliano, Sergio Encarnación-Guevara and Victoriano Pérez-Vázquez*
Affiliation:
- Dpto. de Ciencias Médicas, División de Ciencias de la Salud, Campus León, Universidad de Guanajuato, León, Guanajuato., México
Keywords:
Carbohydrate metabolism, curcumin, db/db mice, diabetes, liver proteome, obesity.
Abstract: Background: In type 2 diabetic mouse liver, hyperglycemia, and insulin modify gene expression.
Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and antidiabetic agent that regulates the gene expression
of different signaling pathways through various transcription factors. Therefore, we hypothesized
that curcumin modifies the protein expression profile in the liver of diabetic db/db mice.
Objective: To determine the effects of curcumin on the liver protein profile of diabetic db/db mice.
Methods: db/db and Wild Type (WT) male mice were allocated in four groups, and they were fed
for eight weeks. Three WT and three diabetic db/db mice received a Standard Diet (SD; WT and
db/db groups, respectively); three WT and three diabetic db/db mice received a SD supplemented
with 0.75% (w/w) curcumin (WT+C and db/db+C groups, respectively). Liver proteins were separated
by 2D electrophoresis. Differential protein expression analysis was performed on Image-
Master 2D Platinum software, and selected proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS and subjected
to enrichment analysis using STRING and DAVID databases.
Results: Thirty-six proteins with differential expression due to diabetic background and curcumin
treatment were found; these proteins participate in the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates,
and lipids. Interestingly, the altered expression of seven proteins was prevented in the liver of the
diabetic mice that received curcumin.
Conclusion: Among all differentially expressed proteins, curcumin reverted the altered expression
of seven proteins. Thus, although it was observed that curcumin did not affect the biochemical parameters,
it does modify the expression of some liver proteins in diabetic mice.
