Strategy for Diabetes Mellitus and Climate Crisis: Amines Mimic Insulin, and Noble CO 2 Capture and Release

Abstract

Abstract Defects in insulin secretion in vivo lead to hyperglycemia, type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), and either insufficient insulin secretion or insulin resistance, which induces type 2 DM. Although several anti-type 2 DM drugs are available, to our knowledge, anti-type 1 DM drugs have not been developed. Amines have been studied as candidate drugs against type 1 DM, because other basic compounds, such as carbonates (NaHCO3 and NaCO3), accelerate glucose consumption in cultured cells. We evaluated more than 20 chemical compounds, including pharmacological drugs, in cultured cells. Among these, 2-amino-1-phenylethanol (2-A-1-PET), 2-amino-1-cyclohexylethanol (2-A-1-CET) and 2-amino-N-cyclohexylethanol (2-A-N-CET) significantly accelerated glucose consumption, which was followed by lactate production in cells. Moreover, treatment with 2-A-1-PET reduced glucose levels in rats. In cells, both 2-A-1-PET and 2-A-N-CET abolished the effects of DM-inducing drugs, such as streptozotocin and alloxan, and nicotinamide, on glucose consumption, whereas both 2-A-1-PET and 2-A-N-CET exerted additive effects with vanadium, carbonates, or concanavalin A on glucose consumption. Furthermore, water solutions of 2-A-1-PET and ethanolamine captured atmospheric CO2 efficiently in a polyethylene terephthalate bottle, and the CO2 captured by 2-A-1-PET or polyethyleneimine on silica gel was released upon acidification with additional HCl. CaCO3 precipitation, which is stable and environmentally friendly, was observed when CaCl2 was added to the amine solution containing captured CO2. Consistently, CaCO3 was obtained when CaCl2 was added to NaOH solution treated with CO2.