Reactive oxygen species up-regulates SOCS-3 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Abstract

We investigated the effect of increased intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) on SOCS-3 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Increased intracellular ROS levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were achieved by two methods of exposure to H2O2 and the occurrence of oxidative stress in cells was assessed by flow cytometry . Expression of SOCS-3 mRNA and that of some adipokines were measured by real time PCR. The level of SOCS-3 protein was determined by western blot. The effect of the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid was also investigated. Both the relatively mild increased intracellular ROS and the acute but transient increased ROS elevated the levels of SOCS-3 mRNA and protein in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, acompanied with elevated levels of TNF-α mRNA and resistin mRNA and the decreased levels of adiponectin mRNA and secretory adiponectin in culture medium. α-lipoic acid could attenuate the effects of ROS on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We hypothesized that in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, SOCS-3 could be upregulated directly by the induction of increased intracellular ROS and to some extent which was up-regulated by adipokine modulation.