In this study, we observed anti-diabetic effects of acid hydrolyzed silk peptides, where the amount of peptides in the total amino acid mixture was strictly regulated. Using in vitro diabetes models, silk peptide-containing amino acid mixtures of 5.60% (G5), 11.30% (G10), 14.50% (G15), and 20.50% (G20) were examined separately in order to determine whether they have biological activities. According to our results, a cytoprotective effect was observed following treatment of interleukin-1β in RINm5f pancreas β-cells. As a consequence, Bax, a pro-apoptotic gene, was down-regulated, while Bcl-2, a pro-survival gene, was retained at normal level. Results of the 4’,6-diamidino-2-phentylindole (DAPI) staining assay confirmed that G20 has a better cytoprotective effect. Insulin release from RINm5f cells showed a significant increase following treatment with G5-G20, suggesting that silk peptide effectively regulated and induced insulin production. Single treatment with G5-G20 resulted in enhanced glucose uptake in L6 skeletal muscle cells. In addition, a higher amount of each group inhibited the activity of α-glucosidase. In summary, these data suggest that silk peptide may have an anti-diabetic effect through protection of pancreas β-cells and enhancement of insulin release, which showed a close association with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), and can improve glucose uptake, which was the major target for therapy of Type 2 diabetes. Taken together, we concluded that acid hydrolyzed silk peptides can be used effectively for control of blood sugar metabolism via improvement of the problematic indices of Type 1 and Type 2 DM.

This study was to taken to demonstrate the effects of exogenous nitric oxide(NO) on hu rnan pu lp cell s ‘ In volvement of cyclic 3’, 5' -monophosphate(cGMP) in p버 paJ protection induced by herne oxygenase-l (J-lO-l) against NO-induced cytotoxicity , By use of Western blotting and cell viabi lity assay, we have examined the cytotoxicity and J-lO-l induction in pulp cells that were treated with NO donor ‘ S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penici 1 lamine(SNAP) , We have assessed wheathel' HQ--l contributes the cytoprotective effect against the cytotoxicity caused by NO, and inves tigated the l'elationship between HO-l and cGMP in the s ignaling pathway, SNAP decreased cell via bility but in creased HO-l expl'ession in a concentl'ation- and time一dependent manner in hurnan pu lp cells NO-induced cyto toxicity was inhibited in the presence of the hemin(inducer of HO-l) , whel'eas was en hanced in the pl'esence zinc protoporphyrin IX(ZnPP IX, HO-l inhibitor), thus Lhe NO-induced cytoLoxicity was cOl'related with HO- l expression. R‘ etreatment with a rnemhrane-permeable cGMP analog, 8-bromo-cGMP, restored cell death and enhanced the HO-l protein expression induced by SNAP, ln contrast‘ inhibition of guanylate cyclase by lI-l -[1,2,4] ox adiazole[ 4,3 口]quinoxalin-l-one(ODQ) pretreated pulp cells to 1 mM SNAP resulting in marked cytotoxicity , These findings , demonstrating a link between J-lO-l, regulated thl'ough the cGMP system and NO-induced cytotox.icity in huma띠 p버 p ceJls , suggesti ng a protective 1'ole of HO-l in pulp infl ammatory disease