KU-32

KU-32 is a novel, novobiocin-based Hsp90 inhibitor that can protect against neuronal cell death. IC50 & Target: Hsp90^[1] In Vitro: Treating human islets with KU-32 for 24 hours shows no toxicity. With a minimum of 2-day exposure, KU-32 improves cellular viability by blocking apoptosis. Functionally, isolated human islets release more glucose-stimulated insulin when preincubate in KU-32^[1]. KU-32 protects against glucose-induced death of embryonic DRG (dorsal root ganglia) neurons cultured for 3 days in vitro^[2]. In Vivo: Diabetic BKS-db/db mice, a model for type 2 diabetes, administered KU-32 for 10 weeks do not show any significant changes in blood glucose and insulin levels, despite having greater insulin staining/beta cell in the pancreas compared to untreated BKS db/db mice^[1].