• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.137-147
• /
• 2014

Cortex ulmi pumilae, the cortex of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, has been used in traditional folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory effect. Although its various bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer, have been reported, the anti-adipogenic activity of cortex ulmi pumilae remains unclarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cortex ulmi pumilae extract on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with cortex ulmi pumilae extract significantly reduced the formation of lipid droplets and triglyceride content in a dose-dependent manner; this is associated with an inhibition of the adipogenic transcription factors, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). In addition, cortex ulmi pumilae extract treatment during the early stage of adipogenesis showed more efficient anti-adipogenic activity than treatment during other stages of adipogenesis. Cortex ulmi pumilae extract also inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1 arrest of 3T3-L1 cells in the early stage of adipogenesis. This was associated with upregulated expression of Cdk inhibitor p21 and downregulated expression of cyclin E and phospho-Rb, indicating that cortex ulmi pumilae extract blocks mitotic clonal expansion by cell cycle regulation. Taken together, these results suggest that cortex ulmi pumilae extract possesses anti-adipogenic activity through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by blocking mitotic clonal expansion.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.720-728
• /
• 2011

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used as a source food as well as a traditional folk medicine ingredient since ancient times. Aged black garlic is a type of fermented garlic and is expected to have stronger anticancer and antioxidant activities than raw garlic. However, the mechanisms of their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis are poorly understood. In the present study, the effects and mechanisms of water extracts of raw garlic (WERG) and aged black garlic (WEABG) on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. Treatment with WEABG significantly suppressed terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining, however WERG had no such effect. In addition, WEABG reduced accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which is associated with a significant inhibition of key pro-adipogenic transcription factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR${\gamma}$), cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP${\alpha}$) and C/EBP${\beta}$. Taken together, these results provide important new insight that aged black garlic might inhibit adipogenesis by suppressing the pro-adipogenic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activity of aged black garlic.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 2010

Adipogenesis has been one of the most intensely studied models of cellular differentiation. During adipogenesis, differential expression of many adipogenesis related genes lead to profound changes in cellular, morphological, and physiological characteristics of the differentiating cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression levels of adipogenic candidate genes, cAMP early repressor (ICER), nephroblastoma over-expressed protein (NOV), heat shock protein beta 1 (HSPB1) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), during adipogenesis of bovine mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC). The BMSC were cultured in DMEM / low glucose medium with adipogenic inducers for 6 days and the expression of various candidate genes which seemed related to adipogenesis were measured by real-time PCR. This study showed that the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$(PPAR${\gamma}$) and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) genes as adipogenic indicators were increased to 3.11 and 3.11 folds on day 6 than on day 0, respectively (p<0.05). To determine whether candidate genes were related to adipogenesis, the expression levels of ICER, NOV, HSPB1, and SDH genes were measured during adipogenesis in BMSC. Our results showed that the expression level of ICER gene was significantly increased to 4.12 folds (0.01729 vs. 0.07138; p<0.05), whereas NOV, HSPB1, and SDH genes were decreased to 2.89, 3.18 and 2.36 folds, respectively, on day 6 when compared to day 0. These results suggest that these candidate genes have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on adipogenesis in BMSC, indicating that these genes may be directly or indirectly related to the adipogenic event of adipose precursor cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.814-821
• /
• 2014

As a natural plant ingredients, glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) contains various physiological activities, mainly anti-oxidative and anti-diabetic activities. However, only a few studies have been carried out on its anti-adipogenic effect. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of Salicornia herbacea L. on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. As adipogenesis of preadipocytes to adipocytes involves proliferation and differentiation of cells, we treated three concentrations (125, 250, and $500{\mu}g/mL$) of Salicornia herbacea L. water extracts (SLW) in both pre-processing and post-processing stages. When 3T3-L1 adipocytes were differentiated and dyed with Oil Red O, adipocytes size and the value of relative Oil Red O staining were reduced by all concentrations of SLW in post-processing stage. Following adipogenic differentiation, the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) in the cell supernatant significantly increased upon treatment with $125{\mu}g/mL$ of SLW and further rose at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ during post-processing stage. There was no significant difference in glycerol production upon SLW treatment. Leptin production significantly decreased at all SLW concentrations during post-processing stage, whereas peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$) and adiponectin secretions were significantly enhanced. Overall results showed that SLW might have an anti-adipogenic effect via enhancement of TNF-${\alpha}$ production, which causes dedifferentiation and inhibits lipid accumulations in adipocyte. Furthermore, SLW might prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as it reduces leptin secretion and enhances production of both PPAR-${\gamma}$ and adiponectin. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanism and bioactive compounds of glasswort.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.789-796
• /
• 2016

The anti-lipogenic effect of cereal samples on high sucrose diet (HSD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice was studied. We divided C57BL/6 mice into various groups based on 8 weeks of treatment with three types of cereal samples (HSD+WR, HSD diet containing 40% white rice; HSD+MCG, HSD diet containing 40% mixed cereal grain; HSD+AO-MCG, HSD diet containing 40% mixed antiobesity-cereal grain). After the experimental period, body weight changes, liver weights, serum lipid profiles, and hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression levels were determined. We found that HSD+WR, HSD+MCG, and HSD+AO-MCG treatments reduced body weight and liver weight, especially HSD+MCG and HSD+AO-MCG effectively reduced levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased compared to the control group. Furthermore, expression of hepatic lipogenic genes such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1, cluster of differentiation, and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$) decreased, whereas expression of ${\beta}-oxidation$ genes such as $PPAR-{\alpha}$ and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 increased following HSD+MCG and HSD+AO-MCG treatment compared with levels in HSD+WR and control groups. These results suggest that the functional cereal samples, especially HSD+AO-MCG treatment, improved hepatic steatosis triggered by an HSD-induced imbalance in hepatic lipid metabolism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.11
• /
• pp.1620-1632
• /
• 2017

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) on muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs and the effects of the formula's extract (distilled water, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extraction) on porcine cell proliferation and isoforms of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) gene expression in myocytes. Methods: In a completely randomized design, ninety pigs were assigned to three diets with five replications per treatment and six pigs per pen. The diets included the basal diet (control group), TCMF1 (basal diet+2.5 g/kg TCMF) and TCMF2 (basal diet+5 g/kg TCMF). The psoas major muscle was obtained from pigs at the end of the experiment. Muscle fiber characteristics in the psoas major muscle were analyzed using myosin ATPase staining. Cell proliferation was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) dye and cytometry. Isoforms of MyHC gene expression were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The final body weight and carcass weight of finishing pigs were increased by TCMF1 (p<0.05), while the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area was increased by TCMF (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area and diameter of psoas major muscle fiber Ι, IIA, and IIB were increased by TCMF2 (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area and fiber diameter of psoas major muscle fiber IIA and IIB were increased by diet supplementation with TCMF1 (p<0.05). Psoas major muscle fiber IIA and IIB fiber density from the pigs fed the TCMF1 diet and the type IIB fiber density from the pigs fed the TCMF2 diet were lower compared to pigs fed the control diet (p<0.05). Pigs fed TCMF2 had a higher composition of type Ι fiber and a lower percentage of type IIB fiber in the psoas major muscle (p<0.05). The expression levels of MyHC Ι, MyHC IIa, and MyHC IIx mRNA increased and the amount of MyHC IIb mRNA decreased in the psoas major muscle from TCMF2, whereas MyHC Ι and MyHC IIx mRNA increased in the psoas major muscle from TCMF1 (p<0.05). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ $coactivator-1{\alpha}$ and CaN mRNA expression in the psoas major muscle were up-regulated by TCMF (p<0.05). Porcine skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation was promoted by $4{\mu}g/mL$ and $20{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF water extraction (p<0.05). Both $1{\mu}g/mL$ and $5{\mu}g/mL$ of TCMF water extraction increased MyHC IIa, MyHC IIb, and MyHC IIx mRNA expression in porcine myocytes (p<0.05), while MyHC Ι mRNA expression in porcine myocytes was decreased by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF water extraction (p<0.05). Porcine myocyte MyHC Ι and MyHC IIx mRNA expression were increased, and MyHC IIa and MyHC IIb mRNA expression were down-regulated by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF ethyl acetate extraction (p<0.05). MyHC Ι and MyHC IIa mRNA expression in porcine myocytes were increased, and the MyHC IIb mRNA expression was decreased by $1{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF ethyl acetate extraction (p<0.05). Four isoforms of MyHC mRNA expression in porcine myocytes were reduced by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF petroleum ether extraction (p<0.05). MyHC IIa mRNA expression in porcine myocytes increased and MyHC IIb mRNA expression decreased by $1{\mu}g/mL$ in a TCMF petroleum ether extraction (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that TCMF amplified the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area through changing muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs. This effect was confirmed as TCMF extraction promoted porcine cell proliferation and affected isoforms of MyHC gene expression in myocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.62-67
• /
• 2015

Myelophycus simplex Papenfuss is distributed over the northern Pacific and southern coast of Korea, and is a member of the brown algae family. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of M. simplex methanol extract on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with M. simplex methanol extract significantly suppressed terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet content observed by Oil Red O staining. Also, the M. simplex methanol extract significantly suppressed the triglyceride content of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 300 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ of M. simplex methanol extract caused a 42% and 76% reduction in lipid droplet content, respectively. In order to understand the anti-adipogenic effects of M. simplex methanol extract, the changes in the expression of several adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\gamma}$-cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$, were investigated using immunoblotting. M. simplex suppressed the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and $C/EBP{\beta}$ proteins compared with control. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that M. simplex methanol extract inhibits adipocyte differentiation and thus may have applications as a potential source for an anti-obesity functional food agent.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.12
• /
• pp.1802-1807
• /
• 2009

Platycodin D, a major component of Platycodi radix, is known to have various activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-tumor activities and others. Recently, it was reported that platycodin D inhibits fat accumulation and adipogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether various adipogenic regulators are modulated by platycodin D treatment during the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. mRNA levels of terminal markers of adipogenesis such as ADIPOQ (adiponectin) and GLUT (glucose transporter) 4, which were quantified by real time PCR, were decreased by platycodin D treatment. mRNA expression of PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) $\gamma$ and C/EBP (CCAAT/enhaner binding protein) $\alpha$, which are central transcription factors of adipogenesis, were also decreased by platycodin D treatment. To elucidate the detailed molecular mechanism of platycodin D-induced inhibition of adipogenesis, we analyzed mRNA expression of upstream regulators of PPAR$\gamma$ and C/EPB$\alpha$. mRNA levels of the pro-adipogenic regulators, KROX20 and KLF (Kruppel-like factor) 15 were markedly down-regulated by platycodin D treatment. On the other hand, mRNA expression of CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein), an anti-adipogenic regulator, was significantly up-regulated by platycodin D treatment. mRNA levels of other pro-adipogenic regulators, C/EBP$\beta$ and C/EPB$\delta$, were not affected by platycodin D treatment, and another anti-adipogenic regulator, C/EBP$\gamma$ was also not affected by platycodin D treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that platycodin D-induced inhibition of adipogenesis is mediated by gene interactions including the down-regulation of pro-adipogenic regulators, KROX20 and KLF15, and the up-regulation of an anti-adipogenic regulator, CHOP.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.411-416
• /
• 2013

This study aimed to examine the mechanisms underlying the effects of Garcinia cambogia extract on the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and long-chain saturated fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity of HepG2 cells. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, mouse embryonic fibroblast-adipose like cell line, were treated with MDI solution (0.5 mM IBMX, 1 ${\mu}M$ dexamethasone, 10 ${\mu}g/mL$ insulin) to generate a cellular model of adipocyte differentiation. Using this cellular model, the anti-obesity effect of Garcinia cambogia extract was evaluated. MDI-induced lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenesis-related genes were detected by Oil red O staining, Nile Red staining, and Western blot analysis. Effects Garcinia cambogia extract on palmitate-induced lipotoxicity was also analyzed by MTT assay, LDH release, and DAPI staining in HepG2 cells. Garcinia cambogia extract significantly suppressed the adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes and intracellular lipid accumulation in the differentiating adipocytes. Garcinia cambogia extract also markedly inhibited the expression of peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor ${\gamma}2$ ($PPAR{\gamma}2$), CCAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and adipocyte protein aP2 (aP2). In addition, Garcinia cambogia extract significantly attenuated palmitate-induced lipotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Palmitateinduced cellular damage and reactive aldehydes were also significantly reduced in the presence of Garcinia cambogia extract. These findings suggest that the Garcinia cambogia extract inhibits the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, probably by regulating the expression of multiple genes associated with adipogenesis such as $PPAR{\gamma}2$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, aP2, and thereby modulating fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity to reduce cellular injury in hepatocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 2013

Vitis amurensis Rupreche, a sort of grape, grows naturally in Asian countries. It is known for important biological effects such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis inhibition. Although its root is used as a traditional folk medicine in Korea, the root's biological activities are poorly studied. In the present study, the effects of V. amurensis root methanol extract (VARM) and its solvent fractions on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. The VARM significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and the triglyceride (TG) content of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. To identify active molecules, the VARM was fractionated with a series of organic solvents including dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). All the fractions also showed inhibition of lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction showed the most powerful anti-obesity effect through the modulation of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosinethymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expression. Oleanolic acid was one of the main active compounds involved in the anti-obesity activity of the V. amurensis root. These results provide important new insight into the potential potent anti-adipogenic effect of the V. amurensis root and illustrate that one of the main compounds involved in this effect is oleanolic acid.