ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of berberine on visfatin expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes,and to explore the mechanism underlying berberine improving insulin resistance.Methods Visfatin mRNA and protein expressions were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blot after incubation of berberine at different concentrations and durations with 3T3-L1 adipocytes.Results In 3T3-L1 adipocytes,visfatin mRNA expression was increased at 0- 10?mol/L berberine with the maximum effect at 10?mol/L,being 4.96 folds of control group.While as the berberine concentrations were further increased above 10?mol/L,the visfatin mRNA level decreased.After incubation with berberine for 3 h,the visfatin mRNA level began to increase,and reached the peak when incubation for 12 h(4.57 fold of basal group).Then the mRNA level decreased,though it was still higher than that in control group after 48h intervention.5,10, 20?moL/L berberine could increase visfatin protein expression by 1.13,2.46,2.34 folds respectively as compared with control group(P