The Marine Factor 3,5-Dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl Alcohol Represses Adipogenesis in Mouse 3T3-L1 Adipocytes In Vitro: Regulating Diverse Signaling Pathways

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The augmentation of adipocytes in the adipose tissues brings disordered pathophysiological conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The phenolic antioxidant 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (DHMBA) prevents oxidative stress as radical scavenging in cells. However, the role of the disorder as a pharmacologic factor has been poorly understood. This study elucidates the regulatory effects of DHMBA on adipogenesis in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. The 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in DMEM containing 10% calf fetal serum in the presence of DHMBA. Culturing with DHMBA repressed the growth of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes cultured in a medium without differentiation factors. Interestingly, when 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in a medium including differentiation factors containing insulin, DHMBA did not affect the number of cells with the differentiation process of adipogenesis. Culturing with DHMBA (1, 10, or 100 μM) inhibited lipid accumulation in adipocytes and repressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. The potent inhibitory effects of DHMBA on adipogenesis were seen at the later stage of culture. Adipogenesis was inhibited by the presence of wortmannin, PD98059, or Bay 11-7082, which are inhibitors of pathways related to insulin signaling pathway. Notably, the suppressive effects of DHMBA on adipogenesis were expressed by the presence of these inhibitors. DHMBA treatment declined the levels of PPARy and C/EBPα related to preadipocyte differentiation and PI3 kinase 100α, Akt, MAPK, phosphor-MAPK, and mTOR implicated in the insulin signaling pathway, leading to adipogenesis promotion. Thus, DHMBA may inhibit adipogenesis via regulating diverse signaling pathways, providing a new strategy for the therapy of obesity.