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Applied Biological Chemistry
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Gryllus bimaculatus extract protects against palmitate-induced β-cell death by inhibiting ceramide synthesis

Applied Biological Chemistry volume 65, Article number: 72 (2022) Cite this article

Abstract

Type I diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of β-cells, leading to severe insulin deficiency. Environmental factors and genetic predisposition are implicated in β-cell destruction, which is the final step in a cascade of complex events. Possible triggers of β-cell destruction are activation of Fas, activation of perforin, increased generation of reactive oxygen species, increased production of inflammatory cytokines, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this study, we examined whether Gryllus bimaculatus (GB) extract could prevent palmitate-induced β-cell apoptosis. Exposure to GB extract prevented palmitate-induced death of MIN6 cells, a mouse pancreatic β-cell line. Palmitate increased total ceramide levels with the elevation of ceramide synthase (CerS)1, CerS4, and CerS6 expressions. Treatment with GB extract decreased the levels and expressions of ceramides related to insulin resistance. CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression, but not CerS1 overexpression, increased palmitate-induced MIN6 cell death by increasing ceramide synthesis. Oppositely, inhibition of ceramide synthesis by fumonisin B1 treatment partially recovered palmitate-induced MIN6 cell death. Furthermore, GB extract reduced ER stress (phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2α), NF-κB–iNOS signaling, and the phosphorylation of MAP kinase (JNK, p38). GB extract reduced pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression but increased anti-apoptotic Bcl2 expression. In addition, CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression aggravated impairment of insulin secretion by palmitate, but GB extract recovered it. In conclusion, GB could be a functional food that improves palmitate-induced β-cell death and insulin secretion.

Introduction

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) accounts for 10% of all DM [1]. Type 1 DM is an autoimmune disease in genetically predisposed patients. Environmental factors can activate the immune system, which then attacks pancreatic β-cells, ultimately leading to insulin deficiency, which induces DM [1]. One of the pancreatic β-cell death mechanisms is endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which is induced by free fatty acids (FFAs) and inflammatory cytokines [2]. FFAs induce β-cell toxicity and NF-κB activation [2]. TNF-α and IL-1β increase NF-κB and caspase-3 activation [3]. NF-κB activation induces several inflammation-related proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and inflammasome complex formation (NRLP3, ASC, caspase-1) [3, 4]. Palmitate, a C16 FFA, increases the generation of C16-ceramide [5, 6], which can induce inflammation and cell death.

Ceramide can be synthesized by several enzymes, and six ceramide synthases (CerS) can determine the acyl chain length of ceramide [7, 8]. For example, CerS1 generates C18-ceramide, CerS2 produces C22–C24-ceramides, CerS4 catalyzes the synthesis of C20-ceramide, and CerS5 and CerS6 produce C16-ceramide. Palmitate treatment increases the generation of C16-, C20-, and C24-ceramides, which reduces insulin secretion and induces β-cell death [9]. CerS4 is involved in glucolipotoxicity-induced apoptosis [10]. Therefore, ceramides and their regulatory enzymes are targets for therapeutic interventions for type 1 DM.

Tenebrio molitor, A. diaperinus, L. migratoria, and G. bimaculatus (GB) are some examples of edible insects. Most edible insects contain high amounts of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals [11]. Therefore, edible insects are considered highly nutritional. In addition to nutritional benefits, some health benefits have been associated with specific edible insects due to their bioactive components. For example, T. molitor larvae and A. dichotoma larvae prevented high-fat diet-induced obesity [12, 13], and GB extract had a glucose-lowering effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice [14] and attenuated alcohol-induced steatohepatitis, apoptotic responses in the liver, and intestinal permeability to bacterial endotoxin [15]. Furthermore, it had anti-inflammatory effects in chronic arthritis models [16], macrophage cells [4], and colon epithelial cells [17]. Therefore, GB extract has several benefits in the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases. In this study, we examined the effects of GB extract on palmitate-induced β-cell death and the underlying mechanism.

Materials and methods

Materials

Palmitate, anti-CerS2 antibody (HPA027262), anti-CerS3 antibody (HPA006092), anti-CerS4 antibody (SAB4301210), anti-CerS5 antibody (SAB4301211), and anti-α-tubulin (T9026) antibody were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO). Anti-p-PERK (Thr980) (3179), anti-p-eIF2α (Ser51) (3597), anti-p-SAPK/JNK (Thr183/Tyr185) (9255), anti-p-p38 (Thr180/Tyr182) (4511), anti-p-p65 (Ser536) (3033), anti-iNOS (13120), anti-cleaved caspase-3 (9664), anti-Bcl2 (3498), and anti-Bax (14796) antibodies were purchased from Cell Signaling Technology (Beverly, MA). Anti-LASS6 (CerS6) antibody (sc-100554) was sourced from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Dallas, TX). Anti-CerS1 antibody (H00010715-M01) was purchased from Abnova (Taipei, Taiwan). Anti-mouse horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated (115-036-003) and anti-rabbit HRP-conjugated (111-035-003) antibodies were procured from Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME).

GB extract

After fasting for 2 days, GB insects were washed, steamed, dried at 60℃, and pulverized as a powder form. Then, GB extract was prepared as previously described [4, 15]. Briefly, GB powder was extracted with 70% ethanol overnight. GB extract was filtered, dried, and kept at – 20 ℃ for further use.

MIN6 cell culture and palmitate treatment

MIN6 cells were grown in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium with 15% fetal bovine serum, 1% penicillin/streptomycin, and 55 mM β-mercaptoethanol and subcultured every 3 days. The cells were treated with 0.5 mM palmitate for 24 h to induce cell death.

Transfection

MIN6 cells were transfected with 3 µg of pcDNA3.1-CerS1-HA, pcDNA3.1-CerS4-HA, or pcDNA3.1-CerS6-HA using Metafectene (Biotex Laboratories, Munich, Germany) in 6-well plates. All plasmids were kindly provided by Professor Anthony H. Futerman (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel). After incubation for 48 h, the transfected cells were treated with 0.5 mM palmitate.

Western blotting

MIN6 cells were lysed in RIPA buffer (50 mM Tris–Cl, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1% Nonidet P-40, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, and 0.1% SDS) containing protease and phosphatase inhibitors (Sigma-Aldrich). Then, lysates were kept on ice for 30 min and centrifuged (10,000 ×g, 4 °C, 10 min). Protein levels in the supernatants were measured using the Bio-Rad Protein Assay dye reagent concentrate (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA). Proteins (50 μg) were loaded and separated on 10% SDS polyacrylamide gels and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes (Bio-Rad Laboratories). Membranes were incubated with blocking buffer [5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in TBST (TBS with 0.1% Tween-20)] at 4 °C for 1 h. Primary antibodies (1:1000 dilutions) were attached by incubation overnight at 4 °C. This was followed by incubation with secondary antibodies at room temperature for 1 h. Protein bands were detected using the EzWestLumi Plus Reagent (ATTO Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and the ChemiDoc MP imaging system (Bio-Rad Laboratories).

MTT cell viability assay

MIN6 cells were seeded at 1 × 105 cells/well in a 96-well plate. The cells were pretreated with GB extract for 24 h and co-treated with 0.5 mM palmitate and GB extract for another 20 h. After treatment, MTT solution (0.5 mg/ml final concentration) was added, and the cells were further incubated for 4 h. The supernatant was discarded, and 200 µl dimethyl sulfoxide was added. After 24 h, the solubilized purple formazan was quantified by spectrophotometric measurement at 540 nm. When MIN6 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-CerS1-HA, pcDNA3.1-CerS4-HA, or pcDNA3.1-CerS6-HA, followed by incubation for 48 h, the CerS1-, CerS4-, and CerS6-overexpressed cells were treated with 0.5 mM palmitate for 20 h, and then MTT solution was added, followed by incubation for another 4 h.

Real-time PCR

Total mRNA of MIN6 cells was collected using the RNeasy Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA), and cDNA was synthesized using the ReverTra Ace qPCR RT Master Mix (Toyobo, Tokyo, Japan). Quantitative PCR was carried out using the Thunderbird SYBR qPCR Mix (Toyobo) in a Bio-Rad CFX96 system (Bio‐Rad Laboratories). Relative gene expression was calculated using the 2−ΔΔCt method, as previously described [18]. The primers used are described in Table 1.

Table 1 Primers used for real-time PCR
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Insulin secretion assay

Insulin secretion was assayed as described elsewhere [19]. MIN6 cells were treated with 0.5 mM palmitate for 12 h and then washed with PBS and incubated in 5 mM Ca2+ containing HEPES-added Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate buffer (HKRB; 129 mM NaCl, 1.2 mM MgSO4, 1.2 mM KH2PO4, 4.7 mM KCl, 5 mM NaHCO3, 2.5 mM CaCl2, 10 mM HEPES [pH 7.4], containing 0.05% BSA) with 2.2 mM glucose. Insulin secretion in high-glucose conditions was performed by stimulation in HKRB containing 22 mM glucose for 1 h.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

TNF-α and nitrite levels were measured using TNF-α ELISA kits (Koma Biotech, Seoul, Korea) and the Nitrite Assay Kit (Griess Reagent) (Sigma-Aldrich), respectively. Insulin levels were examined using the Ultra-Sensitive Mouse Insulin ELISA Kit (Morinaga Institute of Biological Science, Inc., Yokohama, Japan). Total ceramide levels were measured using the Mouse Ceramide ELISA Kit (MyBioSource, San Diego, CA).

Statistical analyses

All experiments were repeated independently in triplicate, and the data were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Statistical significance was calculated using Tukey’s post hoc test (GraphPad Prism 6.0; GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA).

Results

GB extract prevents palmitate-induced death in MIN6 cells

To examine whether GB extract could prevent palmitate-induced cell death, we pretreated MIN6 cells with GB extract for 24 h, followed by treatment with palmitate for another 24 h. Palmitate treatment increased apoptosis, but GB extract pretreatment reduced palmitate-induced cell death (Fig. 1A) and caspase-3 cleavage (Fig. 1B).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Effect of GB extract on PAL-induced β-cell death. MIN6 cells were treated with various concentrations of GB extract for 24 h, followed by 0.5 mM PAL for another 24 h. A MTT cell viability assay and B representative western blots of c-caspase-3 were examined. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM compared to control group; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 and compared to PAL-treated group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01. All experiments were performed in triplicate. GB Gryllus bimaculatus, PAL palmitate, c-caspase-3 cleaved caspase-3

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GB extract reduces palmitate-induced ceramide generation in MIN6 cells

Some studies have shown that palmitate treatment can induce β-cell death by increasing the generation of C16-, C20-, and C24-ceramides and CerS4, CerS5, and CerS6 expressions [9, 10]. Therefore, we measured the changes in CerS expressions. Palmitate increased CerS1, CerS4, and CerS6 expressions, but treatment with GB extract reduced the expressions of CerS1, CerS4, and CerS6 (Fig. 2A, B). Furthermore, the total ceramide level was elevated upon palmitate treatment, but pretreatment with GB extract reduced it (Fig. 2C). CerS2, CerS4, CerS5, and CerS6 expressions were relatively high in MIN6 cells, contrary to the extremely low CerS1 and CerS3 expressions (Fig. 2D), suggesting minor roles for CerS1 and CerS3 in MIN6 cells. To examine whether each CerS affected palmitate-induced cell death, we overexpressed CerS1, CerS4, or CerS6 in MIN6 cells and then treated the cells with palmitate. Interestingly, CerS1 overexpression did not affect palmitate-induced cell death and ceramide generation (Fig. 3A), but CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression increased palmitate-induced cell death (caspase-3 cleavage) and ceramide generation (Fig. 3B, C). Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a CerS inhibitor [20], partially reduced palmitate-induced cell death (caspase-3 cleavage) and ceramide synthesis (Fig. 3D). We found that CerS1 overexpression did not affect palmitate-induced cell death, so we excluded CerS1 and focused on CerS4 and CerS6 in the next experiments.

Fig. 2
figure 2

GB extract reduces ceramide generation. MIN6 cells were treated with GB extract (200 µg/ml) for 24 h, followed by 0.5 mM PAL for another 24 h. A Relative mRNA levels of CerS, B representative western blots of CerS, and C total ceramide levels were examined (n = 3). D Relative CerS mRNA levels in MIN6 cells (n = 3). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM compared to control group; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and compared to PAL-treated group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, ###P < 0.001. All experiments were performed in triplicate. GB Gryllus bimaculatus; PAL palmitate; CerS ceramide synthase, Con control (untreated)

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Ceramide synthesis plays an important role in PAL-induced β-cell death. MTT cell viability assay, total ceramide levels, and representative western blots of c-caspase-3 after 0.5 mM PAL treatment in A CerS1-overexpressed, B CerS4-overexpressed, and C CerS6-overexpressed or D FB1-treated MIN6 cells (n = 3). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM compared to control group; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 and compared to PAL-treated group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, ###P < 0.001. All experiments were performed in triplicate. PAL palmitate, c-caspase-3 cleaved caspase-3, CerS ceramide synthase, FB1 fumonisin B1, GB Gryllus bimaculatus, Con control (untreated)

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CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression increases ER stress, cell death signaling, and inflammatory cytokine production

In consideration that palmitate may affect ER stress [21] and apoptotic signaling pathways, such as Bcl2 and Bax pathways [22], we examined these signaling pathways in CerS4- or CerS6-overexpressed MIN6 cells. CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression increased the phosphorylation of ER stress markers PERK and eIF2α [8], and the phosphorylation of the MAP kinases JNK and p38 [23] (Fig. 4A). It also increased NF-κB p65 phosphorylation, iNOS expression, and pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression, but reduced anti-apoptotic Bcl2 protein expression (Fig. 4A). CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression increased nitrite and TNF-α levels (Fig. 4B, C). However, FB1 reduced ER stress, MAP kinase phosphorylation (JNK, p38), NF-κB p65 phosphorylation, iNOS expression, and pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression, and increased Bcl2 expression (Fig. 5A). FB1 treatment also reduced nitrite and TNF-α levels (Fig. 5B, C).

Fig. 4
figure 4

CerS4 and CerS6 play an important role in PAL-induced β-cell death. A Representative western blots of indicated proteins after 0.5 mM PAL treatment in CerS4- or CerS6-overexpressed MIN6 cells. B Nitrite and C TNF-α levels were measured after 0.5 mM PAL treatment in CerS4- or CerS6-overexpressed MIN6 cells (n = 3). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM compared to control group; **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 and compared to PAL-treated group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01. All experiments were performed in triplicate. CerS ceramide synthase, PAL palmitate, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Bcl2 B-cell lymphoma 2, eIF2α eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A, iNOS inducible nitric oxygen synthase; PERK protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, Con control (untreated)

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Fig. 5
figure 5

Inhibition of ceramide synthesis decreases PAL-induced β-cell death. MIN6 cells were treated with 1 µM FB1 for 24 h, followed by 0.5 mM PAL for another 24 h. A Representative western blots of indicated proteins after PAL treatment in FB1-pretreated MIN6 cells. B Nitrite and C TNF-α levels were measured after PAL treatment in FB1-pretreated MIN6 cells (n = 3). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM compared to control group; **P < 0.01 and compared to PAL-treated group; ##P < 0.01. All experiments were performed in triplicate. PAL palmitate, FB1 fumonisin B1, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Bcl2 B-cell lymphoma 2, eIF2α eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A, iNOS inducible nitric oxygen synthase, PERK protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, Con control (untreated)

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GB extract reduces cell death signaling and improves insulin secretion

CerS4 and CerS6 regulate cell death and inflammatory cytokine production. Therefore, we pretreated MIN6 cells with GB extract for 24 h, followed by palmitate treatment for another 24 h. GB extract decreased ER stress (phosphorylation of PERK, eIF2α), MAP kinase signaling (JNK, p38 phosphorylation), NF-κB p65 phosphorylation, iNOS expression, and pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression, and increased anti-apoptotic Bcl2 protein expression (Fig. 6A). It also reduced the production of nitrite and TNF-α (Fig. 6B, C). Palmitate treatment has been shown to reduce insulin secretion [22]. Hence, we measured insulin secretion in CerS4- and CerS6-overexpressed MIN6 cells and GB extract-treated MIN6 cells. Palmitate treatment attenuated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression reduced insulin secretion compared to the palmitate-treated group (Fig. 7A). GB extract treatment dose-dependently recovered insulin secretion and palmitate-induced ceramide generation (Fig. 7B), indicating that GB extract reduced ceramide generation and improved insulin secretion.

Fig. 6
figure 6

GB extract decreases PAL-induced β-cell death. MIN6 cells were treated with 200 µg/ml GB extract for 24 h, followed by 0.5 mM PAL for another 24 h. A Representative western blots of indicated proteins after PAL treatment in GB extract-pretreated MIN6 cells. B Nitrite and C TNF-α levels were measured after PAL treatment in GB extract-pretreated MIN6 cells (n = 3). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM compared to control group; *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 and compared to PAL-treated group; ##P < 0.01. All experiments were performed in triplicate. GB Gryllus bimaculatus, PAL palmitate, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Bcl2 B-cell lymphoma 2, eIF2α eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A, iNOS inducible nitric oxygen synthase, PERK protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, Con control (untreated)

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Fig. 7
figure 7

GB extract improves glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. A Effect of CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion after treatment with 0.5 mM PAL for 12 h (n = 3). B Total ceramide levels in CerS4- or CerS6-overexpressed MIN6 cells after treatment with 0.5 mM PAL for 12 h (n = 3). C Effect of GB extract on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion after treatment with 0.5 mM PAL for 12 h (n = 3). D Total ceramide levels in GB-treated MIN6 cells after treatment with 0.5 mM PAL for 12 h (n = 3). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM compared to control group; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 and compared to PAL-treated group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01. All experiments were performed in triplicate. GB Gryllus bimaculatus, CerS ceramide synthase, PAL palmitate, Con control (untreated)

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Discussion

Many mechanisms, such as ER stress, apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, are involved in pancreatic β-cell death. Palmitate induces ER stress, disrupts ER-to-Golgi protein trafficking [21], increases oxidative stress, and causes mitochondrial dysfunction [24], resulting in lipotoxicity. It can also induce β-cell death and impair insulin secretion [21]. In our study, GB extract reduced palmitate-induced cell death by regulating several mechanisms, including the inhibition of ER stress, the NF-κB signaling pathway, MAP kinase, inflammatory cytokines, and nitrite production. It seemed that all these inhibitory mechanisms might be due to ceramide synthesis.

Ceramide plays a major role in many diseases. In MIN6 cells, ceramide has inhibitory effects on β-cell insulin secretion [25, 26]. Palmitate increases C16-, C20-, and C24-ceramides, which impair insulin secretion [9]. Treatment with GB extract reduced the total ceramide generation and CerS1, CerS4, and CerS6 expressions. Furthermore, GB extract recovered insulin secretion by reducing ceramide generation. Even though GB extract reduced CerS1, CerS4, and CerS6 expressions, the role of CerS1 might be limited. CerS1 overexpression did not affect palmitate-induced pancreatic β-cell death and caspase-3 activation in contrast to overexpression of CerS4 and CerS6, which increased palmitate-induced pancreatic β-cell death and caspase-3 activation in MIN6 cells. CerS1 expression is extremely low in MIN6 cells, but CerS4 and CerS6 expressions are relatively high, suggesting that CerS1 plays a minor role in MIN6 cells. Moreover, FB1 treatment prevented palmitate-induced cell death. In detail, palmitate increased various apoptotic signaling pathways, such as ER stress and MAP kinase, NF-κB–iNOS, Bax, and Bcl2 expressions. Overexpression of CerS4 and CerS6 aggravated all these pathways. However, inhibition of ceramide generation by FB1 treatment attenuated all cell death pathways. In addition, FB1 treatment reduced pro-apoptotic Bax protein and increased anti-apoptotic Bcl2 protein. Therefore, palmitate increases ceramide biosynthesis, and ceramide plays a critical role in various cell death signaling pathways. GB extract inhibited ceramide generation, attenuated both β-cell death, and increased insulin secretion.

In a previous study, we found that GB extract has high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid and linoleic acid [4]. Both acids increase insulin production [27, 28]. Oleic acid protects against palmitate-induced ER stress [29, 30] and reverses the impairment of insulin secretion by palmitate [29]. Furthermore, oleic acid has proliferative effects on β-cells [31]. Inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-1β, inhibit insulin secretion via nitric oxide generation [32, 33]. Palmitate increased inflammation and inflammatory cytokine production, whereas GB extract reduced the nitrite levels and TNF-α generation. Therefore, unsaturated fatty acids in GB extract and its anti-inflammatory effects might protect against palmitate-induced cell death and impairment of insulin secretion.

There is a large body of evidence on the beneficial effects of some edible insects in modulating palmitate-induced lipotoxicity and blood glucose levels. For example, A. dichotoma larva extract reduced palmitate-induced β-cell death [34], and Oxya chinensis sinuosa, Protaetia brevitarsis, and Korean grain larvae reduced fasting blood glucose [35]. Edible insects have a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, some minerals, and various bioactive compounds [11]. Therefore, edible insects might have considerable benefits in patients with diabetes and metabolic diseases. Dietary intervention trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of edible insects as functional foods to regulate blood glucose and insulin secretion.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

CerS:

Ceramide synthase

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

ER:

Endoplasmic reticulum

FB1:

Fumonisin B1

FFA:

Free fatty acid

GB:

Gryllus bimaculatus

iNOS:

Inducible nitric oxide synthase

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Acknowledgements

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Funding

This research was supported by the Chung-Ang University Research Grants in 2022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gil Medical Center, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, 21565, Republic of Korea

    Ie Byung Park

  2. Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07804, Republic of Korea

    Min Hee Kim

  3. Department of Human Ecology (Food Science and Nutrition), Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea

    Jung-Soon Han

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Heukseok-lo 84, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea

    Woo-Jae Park

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  1. Ie Byung Park
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Contributions

WJP contributed to the conception and design of the study. IBP, MHK, JSH, and WJP performed the experiments and shared raw data for legitimacy. IBP and WJP contributed to the acquisition of data and wrote the manuscript. MHK edited figures and WJP and JSH reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Woo-Jae Park.

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Park, I.B., Kim, M.H., Han, JS. et al. Gryllus bimaculatus extract protects against palmitate-induced β-cell death by inhibiting ceramide synthesis. Appl Biol Chem 65, 72 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13765-022-00742-6

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