Baicalin prevents tumor necrosis factor-α-induced apoptosis and dysfunction of pancreatic β-cell line Min6 via upregulation of miR-205.

Baicalin (BAI), one major flavonoid from Scutellaria baicalensis, possesses anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of BAI on diabetes mellitus has not been investigated. This study explored the antidiabetic effect of BAI on pancreatic β-cell line Min6. Min6 cells were treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) to mimic β-cell destruction in type 1 diabetes mellitus. The effects of BAI on viability and apoptosis of Min6 cells were analyzed by the cell counting kit-8 assay and Annexin V-fluoresceine isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining method. The insulin secretion of Min6 cells was determined using radioimmunoassay. Expression of apoptosis-associated proteins and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and nuclear factor ΚB (NF-κB) pathways were analyzed by Western blot analysis. Relative microRNA-205 (miR-205) expression was determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. TNF-α treatment inhibited cell growth and insulin secretion, but promoted iNOS expression. All of these effects were reversed by BAI treatment. BAI promoted viability; suppressed apoptosis; regulated caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma 2 and Bcl-2-associated X protein; decreased iNOS level; and increased insulin production. BAI protected Min6 cells by upregulating miR-205. Besides, the Min6 cell-protective effect of BAI was PI3K/AKT pathway and NF-κB pathway dependent. BAI activated the PI3K/AKT pathway and inhibited the NF-κB pathway by regulating miR-205. In conclusion, BAI protected Min6 cells from TNF-α-induced injury by upregulating miR-205, which acts, at least in part, via activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and inactivation of the NF-κB pathway.