Abstract
Background: Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase2 (SERCA2) is impaired in various organs in animal models of diabetes. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of an allosteric SERCA2 activator (CDN1163) on glucose intolerance, hepatosteatosis, skeletal muscle function, and endothelial dysfunction in diabetic (db/db) mice. Methods: Either CDN1163 or vehicle was injected intraperitoneally into 16-week-old male control and db/db mice for 5 consecutive days. Results: SERCA2 protein expression was decreased in the aorta of db/db mice. In isometric tension measurements of aortic rings from db/db mice treated with CDN1163, acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation was improved. In vivo intraperitoneal administrations of CDN 1163 also increased ACh-induced relaxation. Moreover, CDN1163 significantly decreased blood glucose in db/db mice at 60 and 120 min during a glucose tolerance test; it also decreased serum insulin levels, hepatosteatosis, and oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle during the early period of exercise in db/db mice. Conclusions: CDN1163 directly improved aortic endothelial dysfunction in db/db mice. Moreover, CDN1163 improved hepatosteatosis, skeletal muscle function, and insulin resistance in db/db mice. The activation of SERCA2 might be a strategy for the all the tissue expressed SERCA2a improvement of endothelial dysfunction and the target for the organs related to insulin resistance.