Metformin Reduces Lipotoxicity-Induced Meta-Inflammation in β-Cells through the Activation of GPR40-PLC-IP3 Pathway

Figure 5

Protective effects of metformin on high-fat diet-induced inflammatory injury in obese rats. (a) The average weight of each treatment group. (b) Lee’s index. (c) HOMA-IR. (d) Free fatty acid A (FFA). (e) Metformin decreases the levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. (f) IPGTT. (g) Glucose AUC of IPGTT. (h) ITT. (i) Glucose AUC of ITT for each group. (j) HOMA-β. (k) Plasma insulin levels during IPGTT. (l) The AUC for plasma insulin concentration during IPGTT. (m) Fasting blood glucose levels. (n) Blood lipid levels for each group: total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). (o) Metformin reduces pancreatic cell apoptosis induced by high-fat diet. (O1) Representative images from fluorescent microscopy for each group. The white arrows indicate apoptotic cells. (O2) Collective analyses of all three independent experiments. (p) Metformin increases the levels of IP3. (q) Expression of TLR4, NF-κB subunit P65, GPR40-PLC, AMPK, and pAMPK-α1 detected by Western blot. (Q1) Representative Western blot images for each group. (Q2) The ratio of target protein to β-actin. (r) Representative images of immunofluorescence from pancreatic tissue for each group. ^A vs. NC group, ^B vs. HFD group.

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