Relationship between suppression of insulin resistance by chromium and erythropoietin

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K05975
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42030:Animal life science-related
• Research Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University (2022-2023); Osaka Prefecture University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Kazuhiko Nishimura 大阪公立大学, 大学院獣医学研究科, 准教授 (30285308)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ３価クロム / インシュリン抵抗性 / エリスロポエチン / PPARγ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Trivalent chromium (Cr) has been reported to work to improve insulin resistance, and erythropoietin (EPO) has also been reported to have a similar effect. Using HepG2 cells, which are EPO-producing cells, we analyzed the effect of Cr addition on the acquisition of insulin resistance and the involvement of EPO. Addition of Cr inhibited the acquisition of insulin resistance in HepG2 cells depending on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Cr also promoted EPO production and contributed to suppressing the acquisition of insulin resistance via the EPO receptor. When Cr was administered long-term for more than 4 weeks, the promoting effect of Cr on PPARγ and EPO production persisted. The inhibitory effect of Cr on the acquisition of insulin resistance was thought to last for a long time.

Free Research Field

毒性学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

３価クロムはサプリメントとして利用されているが、その効果については意見が分かれており、細胞での３価クロムの作用機序の解明も進んでいない現状で、本研究の成果は３価クロムの有用性を示す一助になると考えられる。また、３価クロムを長期処置しても作用が減弱しないことから、インシュリン抵抗性の予防や治療に３価クロムの利用の可能性が見いだされた。