Caffeic acid and cinnamic acid ameliorate glucose metabolism via modulating glycogenesis and gluconeogenesis in insulin-resistant mouse hepatocytes

Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a pivotal role in cellular insulin resistance and can induce insulin resistance in mouse FL83B hepatocytes. Caffeic acid and cinnamic acid were found to improve glucose uptake in TNF-α-treated insulin-resistant mouse FL83B hepatocytes. The mechanism of glucose metabolism by caffeic acid and cinnamic acid was further investigated. The result from Western blot analysis revealed that caffeic acid and cinnamic acid increased expression of glycogen synthase, whereas the expression of glycogen synthase kinase and phosphorylation of glycogen synthase at Ser641 in insulin-resistant mouse hepatocytes was decreased. Caffeic acid and cinnamic acid suppressed the expression of hepatic nuclear factor-4 in TNF-α-treated mouse FL83B hepatocytes. The activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was also inhibited. Thus, caffeic acid and cinnamic acid ameliorated glucose metabolism by promoting glycogenesis and inhibiting gluconeogenesis in TNF-α-treated insulin-resistant mouse hepatocytes.

► Caffeic and cinnamic acids cause increases in glycogen content.
► They increase expressions of glycogenesis promoting-associated proteins.
► They decrease expressions of gluconeogenesis promoting-associated proteins.
► They inhibit gluconeogenesis promoting-associated enzyme activities.
► They ameliorate glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant hepatocytes.