Astragalus polysaccharide improve the proliferation and insulin secretion of mouse pancreatic β cells induced by high glucose and palmitic acid partially through promoting miR-136-5p and miR-149-5p expression

The current drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can cause side effects after long-time use. Hence, the novel drugs were urgent need to developed for T2DM patients. In this study, the effect of astragalus polysaccharide on dysfunctional insulin cells was investigated to clarify whether astragalus polysaccharide could be a novel drug for T2DM treatment. MIN6 cells (mouse pancreatic β-cell line) were treated with high glucose (HG)+ palmitic acid (PA) and then treated with astragalus polysaccharide. The proliferation, apoptosis, and insulin secretion were measured using CCK8, flow cytometry, and ELISA, respectively. Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1), miR-136-5p, and miR-149-5p expression levels were measured by RT-qPCR. The combination of EF-hand domain family member 2 (EFHD2) and miR-136-5p or miR-149-5p was analyzed by luciferase reporter assay. EFHD2 protein level was measured by western blot. We found that HG+PA treatment reduced MIN6 cell viability, insulin secretion, and PDX1 expression and promoted MIN6 cell apoptosis. Astragalus polysaccharide treatment reversed the effect of HG+PA on MIN6 cells. Additionally, astragalus polysaccharide treatment promoted miR-136-5p and miR-149-5p expression. Silencing of miR-136-5p and miR-149-5p expression partially reversed the therapeutic effects of astragalus polysaccharide. Furthermore, EFHD2 was the target of miR-136-5p and miR-149-5p. Meanwhile, astragalus polysaccharide treatment inhibited EFHD2 protein level in HG+PA treated MIN6 cell. Finally, EFHD2 overexpression partially reversed the therapeutic effects of astragalus polysaccharide. In conclusion, astragalus polysaccharide treatment improved proliferation and insulin secretion in HG+PA-treated MIN6 cells partially by promoting miR-136-5p and miR-149-5p expression to inhibit EFHD2 expression.