Bioactive Fraction of Aronia melanocarpa Fruit Inhibits Adipogenic Differentiation of Cultured 3T3-L1 Cells

Hwa-Young Lee,Bo-Hyung Kim,Sung-Vin Yim,Bong-Keun Jang,Kwang Sik Suh,Young Il Kim

doi:10.3390/app11199224

Abstract

Obesity is caused by excessive fat cells and the overgrowth of adipocytes and is a major risk factor for several chronic illnesses. Aronia melanocarpa fruit is rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols and has protective effects against various diseases. In this study, we examined the effect of Aronia extract (Aronia bioactive fraction, ABF®) on the biomarkers of the adipogenic pathway during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Lipid accumulation was verified by Oil Red O staining. mRNA and protein expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were assayed by RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses. Adiponectin and leptin secretion were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. ABF® treatment downregulated lipid accumulation based on Oil Red O staining. ABF®-treated cells exhibited decreased mRNA and protein expression of LPL, C/EBPα, PPARγ, FABP2, and FAS. Moreover, ABF® treatment significantly increased adiponectin secretion and decreased leptin secretion. In conclusion, ABF® has anti-adipogenic effects on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and may be used as an anti-obesity nutraceutical.

Highlights

Obesity is a major risk factor that is closely related to various pathological conditions and chronic diseases worldwide
We examined the effects of ABF® on the mRNA and protein expression of adipogenesis levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes
7, ABF® reduced the expression of C/EBPα, PPARγ, FABP2, and FAS in a dose-dependent manner. These results showed that ABF® has an inhibitory effect on adipocyte production and accumulation by regulating important adipogenic differentiation transcription factors

Summary

Introduction

Obesity is a major risk factor that is closely related to various pathological conditions and chronic diseases worldwide. Obesity has become a major global public health problem. Excess adiposity is the main cause of obesity and is associated with various diseases, including many cancers, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic syndrome [2,3,4]. Adipose tissue plays various physiological roles in the secretion of traditional or neuroendocrine hormones, essential energy metabolism, and immune functions [5,6]. Adipocytes are a major player in obesity through their overgrowth and differentiation. Hyperplasia (an increase in cell number) and hypertrophy (an increase in cell size) of adipocytes result in adipose tissue growth. Adipocytes are involved in regulating lipid metabolism and store excessive lipids, triglycerides, free cholesterol, and toxic lipid metabolites in the body [4,7,8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion