Abstract
BackgroundObesity is closely related to the metabolism of triacylglycerol (TG) in adipocytes. Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) are rate-limiting enzymes that control the hydrolysis of TG. Effects on ATGL and HSL to increase lipolysis may counteract obesity. Berberine (BBR) is a compound derived from the Chinese medicine plant Coptis chinensis. In the present study we show the effects of BBR on ATGL and HSL and explore the potential underlying mechanisms of these effects.MethodsThe TG content in cells was measured using a colorimetric assay. The expressions of HSL, ATGL and GPAT3 were evaluated by Western-blotting. The expression of ATGL was also evaluated by real-time PCR and radioimmunoassay. Compound C, an inhibitor of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), was used to explore the possible pathway that involved in the effect of BBR on ATGL.ResultsTG content of differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was significantly decreased by more than 10% after treated with BBR. In differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, BBR increased the expression of p-HSL and ATGL, and these effects were time-depended (p <0.01). The effect of BBR on ATGL expression could be abolished by Compound C which suggested that AMPK pathway was involved in the effects of BBR on p-HSL and ATGL.ConclusionsBBR could increase the expression of ATGL and therefore stimulate basal lipolysis in mature adipocytes through the associated mechanisms related to the AMPK pathway.
Highlights
Obesity is closely related to the metabolism of triacylglycerol (TG) in adipocytes
TG content of differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was significantly decreased after BBR treatment The 3T3-L1 cells, derived from mouse fibroblast cells, could be induced to differentiate to adipocytes, which are widely used in research studies concerning TG metabolism and obesity
These results indicated that the metabolism of TG in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells may be regulated by BBR
Summary
Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) are rate-limiting enzymes that control the hydrolysis of TG. Effects on ATGL and HSL to increase lipolysis may counteract obesity. Berberine (BBR) is a compound derived from the Chinese medicine plant Coptis chinensis. Obesity has become a worldwide public health problem. It is an established risk factor for metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [1, 2]. There are several key enzymes that participate in the metabolic processing of TG, including glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 3 (GPAT3), hormonesensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). GPAT3 is the major GPAT isoform expressed in Berberine (BBR) is a major constituent of the Chinese herb Rhizoma Coptidis. BBR is known for its antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, and antidiarrheal activity, and it is commonly used in clinical practice to treat bacterial diarrhea [5]
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