Abstract
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a primary bioactive phytochemical in green tea. Its therapeutic potential in metabolic diseases has been reported; however, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-obesity effect of EGCG have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of EGCG on lipid metabolism and autophagy in adipose tissue. After 8 weeks of high-fat diet feeding, mice were treated with EGCG (20 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks to test in vivo anti-obesity effects of EGCG. EGCG treatment improved glucose tolerance and caused body weight loss. Interestingly, reduced adipose tissue mass was more prominent in visceral compared to subcutaneous white adipose tissue. Mechanistically, EGCG treatment increased autophagic flux in white adipose tissue through the AMP-activated protein kinase-mediated signaling pathway. Adipocyte-specific knockout of Beclin1 mitigated the effects of EGCG on visceral adipose tissue mass and glucose tolerance, indicating that the anti-obesity effect of EGCG requires Beclin1-dependent autophagy. Collectively, our data demonstrated that EGCG has anti-obesity effects through the upregulation of Beclin1-dependent autophagy and lipid catabolism in white adipose tissue (WAT).
Highlights
Obesity, a worldwide health problem, is defined as abnormal fat accumulation and excess adiposity, and is generally caused by an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure [1,2]
We previously investigated the roles of EGCG in adipocytes and illustrated that EGCG treatment regulated autophagic lipolysis in adipocytes in vitro [15]
H&E staining indicated that EGCG reduced adipocyte size in inguinal white adipose tissue (WAT) and gonadal white adipose tissue (gWAT) (Figure 1C,D)
Summary
A worldwide health problem, is defined as abnormal fat accumulation and excess adiposity, and is generally caused by an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure [1,2]. Obesity is a risk factor that may cause chronic metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases [3]. Green tea is consumed throughout the world, and its various health benefits have been reported [4]. Research on green tea has shed light on the health-promoting effects of green tea catechin, including its ability to control hyperlipidemia and adiposity in rodent obesity model studies and clinical trials. The polyphenolic catechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is a principal bioactive constituent of green tea [4]. With regard to effects on lipid metabolism, Nutrients 2020, 12, 3072; doi:10.3390/nu12103072 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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