Overview of INS-1 Cells for Obesity Research

At Protheragen, we are committed to promoting innovation and development in the field of life sciences, especially in the research and development of anti-obesity therapeutics. As an important part of our Preclinical Studies of Anti-Obesity Therapeutics, the Obesity Models bring together a variety of cutting-edge technology platforms to simulate the pathological process of obesity and accelerate the process of drug development. Among them, In Vitro Obesity Models for Obesity Research are one of our highlights, especially the customized services provided by the pancreatic β cell line INS-1 cells, which provides a powerful tool for in-depth research on obesity and related metabolic diseases.

INS-1 as a classic cell model for studying insulin secretion and regulation in diabetes and obesity, simulates the function of pancreatic β cells in vivo and is an ideal choice for studying how obesity affects metabolic balance by affecting insulin secretion and sensitivity. Our INS-1 cells for obesity research provide researchers with comprehensive solutions from the cellular level to the molecular mechanism level to help discover and optimize anti-obesity drugs.

We underscore the crucial role of INS-1 cells in our Anti-Obesity Therapy Development. These pancreatic beta cells are vital for examining insulin secretion and its regulation in the context of obesity. By employing INS-1 cells, we assess the impact of potential therapies on insulin production and sensitivity, which are fundamental aspects of Anti-Obesity Small Molecule Drug Development and Anti-Obesity Gene Therapy Development.

Dive Deep into Obesity with INS-1 Cells

• Cell Culture and Maintenance

  We maintain INS-1 cells in Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI-1640) medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), glucose, and antibiotics, under controlled conditions (37°C, 5% CO₂). This ensures optimal growth and viability of the cells.

• Treating INS-1 Cells with Obesity-Related Factors

  To replicate the obese state, we treat INS-1 cells with various concentrations of factors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and leptin. These treatments allow us to investigate the direct effects of obesity-related cytokines and hormones on β-cell function.

• Measuring Insulin Secretion

  After treatment, we measure the insulin secretion response of INS-1 cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays. This step is crucial for assessing how obesity-related factors impact the cells' insulin functionality. The quantification provides us with detailed insights into glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and potential dysregulation.

• Gene Expression Analysis

  We perform RNA extraction followed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) to analyze the expression levels of key genes involved in insulin secretion and β-cell health. This includes genes such as FOXO1 and PGC-1α. We understand the molecular alterations induced by obesity-related factors by monitoring the expression of these genes.

• Protein Analysis

  We study the phosphorylation levels and nuclear localization of proteins like forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) by utilizing western blotting and immunostaining techniques. This allows us to examine significant changes in insulin signaling pathways.

  We design customized experimental protocols for screening anti-obesity compounds. These protocols help in evaluating the efficacy of these compounds in improving β-cell function and insulin sensitivity.

  We conduct mechanistic studies using advanced techniques like chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and RNA sequencing to dissect the molecular mechanisms by which obesity impacts β-cell function.

Workflow

Applications of INS-1 Cells for Obesity Research

• Simulating changes in pancreatic islet function: INS-1 cells can be used to accurately simulate the functional changes of human pancreatic β cells in an obese state, helping researchers to gain a deeper understanding of how obesity affects insulin secretion, sensitivity, and the survival and apoptosis of pancreatic cells.
• Evaluating drug effects: INS-1 cells can be used to quickly evaluate candidate drugs' protective effects on pancreatic β cells.
• Obesity-related metabolic mechanism research: INS-1 cells are an ideal model for studying the relationship between obesity and metabolic diseases such as diabetes and insulin resistance.

Advantages

• High simulation: INS-1 cells have similar biological characteristics and functions to human pancreatic β cells, and can highly simulate the changes of pancreatic β cells under obesity.
• Flexibility: Our INS-1 cells technology platform supports a variety of experimental designs and operations to meet different research needs.
• Efficiency: Compared with traditional animal models, INS-1 cells have the advantages of a short culture cycle, simple operation, and low cost, which significantly improves research efficiency and reduces research costs.

Publication

Our Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the unique advantages of the INS-1 cell model?

INS-1 cells have several unique advantages as a model for studying the effects of obesity on pancreatic islet function. First, they retain a high insulin secretion capacity and can more realistically simulate the functional changes of human pancreatic beta cells under physiological and pathological conditions. Second, INS-1 cells are easy to culture in vitro and maintain long-term stability, which makes the experimental results more reproducible and reliable. In addition, the culture cost of INS-1 cells is relatively low, and no ethical approval is required for complex animal experiments, which accelerates the research process and reduces research costs.

How do I use INS-1 cells to study obesity-related changes in pancreatic islet function?

You can use a variety of experimental methods to study obesity-related changes in pancreatic islet function using INS-1 cells. For example, you can simulate a high-fat diet or obesity-related hormonal environment (such as increased insulin resistance) to stimulate INS-1 cells and observe changes in insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and cell survival status. In addition, molecular biology techniques (such as gene knockout and overexpression) can be used to explore the role of specific genes or signaling pathways in obesity-induced pancreatic islet function impairment.

As an ideal model for simulating pancreatic β cells, INS-1 cells not only retain a high insulin secretion capacity but also have the characteristics of easy culture and long-term stability. Protheragen focuses on providing high-quality INS-1 cells, which have shown unique value in the field of obesity research. Please feel free to contact us for more details if you are interested in our GT1-7 cells for obesity research!

All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.

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• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) for Obesity Research
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• SGBS Cells for Obesity Research
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