Lipogenesis In Adipocytes Research Articles

Rottlerin Suppresses Fat Accumulation by Inhibiting Adipogenesis and De Novo Lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

ObjectivesRottlerin is isolated from Mallotus japonicus, a rich-in polyphenol. Rottlerin is a PKC delta inhibitor known for an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation and anti-neoplastic agent. However, the effect of anti-obesity is not conclusive. This study hypothesized that rottlerin inhibits lipid accumulation in adipocytes. Methods3T3-L1 cells were maintained with DMEM containing 10% BCS and 1% penicillin. The cells were seeded in a 6-well plate with a density of 8 × 104 followed by cultured for 4 days until reaching 120% confluency and incubated in a differentiation medium for 6 days. Rottlerin was incubated with differentiation media (0, 1, 2, and 4 μM). Cells were harvested after treatment for measurement of Oil Red O stating, immunoblotting, and RT-PCR. ResultsDifferentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were stained using the Oil Red O, which stains triglycerides into the red. Lipid accumulation was significantly inhibited in 4 μM of rottlerin (P < 0.001). In protein levels, PPARγ, an adipogenesis marker, was reduced dose-dependently decreased (P < 0.001), indicating lipid droplet formation reduced. FAS and SCD1 were diminished by rottlerin treated groups (all P < 0.001). ACC-pS79/ACC was increased by rottlerin (P = 0.02). In mRNA gene expressions, C/EBPα was reduced by rottlerin in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.001), and PPARγ tend to be decreased by rottlerin (P = 0.06). FAS and SREBP1 were inhibited by rottlerin (P < 0.01). SCD1 was dramatically reduced by rottlerin (P < 0.001). ConclusionsWe found that rottlerin reduces lipid accumulation by inhibiting adipogenesis in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This suggests that rottlerin is a potential nutraceutical for treating dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity. Funding SourcesThis work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (Ministry of Science and ICT; MSIT).

463-P: Fuel Expenditure and Deposition in Tissues after Exercise or Low-Fat Diet in Obese Female and Male Mice

We hypothesized that a healthy diet and exercise improve energy metabolism through different pathways in males and females. Understanding the mechanism for a how healthy diet vs. exercise improves metabolic outcomes is important for intervention through lifestyle change to target risk factors for obesity-associated diseases in specific populations. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks, then divided into 4 groups, followed for 6 weeks: a. HFD; b. HFD + exercise; c. the diet was switched to chow; d. diet-switch + exercise. Instead of acute metabolic effects, we investigated sustained effects of exercise by examining tissue glucose uptake and metabolism 48 hours after the last exercise session. Diet-switch and exercise reduced obesity and fat contents in tissues in both sexes. Muscle glucose uptake was higher in males than females and not different between treatments 48 hours after exercise session. Liver glucose uptake was higher in males than females. Exercise, but not diet-switch, lowered liver glucose uptake, which effect was greater in males than females. Glucose uptake in subcutaneous, visceral, and brown adipose tissues was higher in females than males. Diet-switch, but not exercise, reduced glucose uptake in brown fat, which effect was greater in females than males. Furthermore, Diet-switch decreased the pathways for adipocyte differentiation (PPARγ) and lipogenesis (DGAT1/2) in subcutaneous adipose tissues in females. Muscle protein levels of CPT1β and pACC were increased by diet-switch in both sexes, and by exercise in males only. Our data indicate: 1) adipose tissue nutrient storage is the major energy reservoir that protects against obesity-related metabolic changes in females; 2) with regard to improving metabolic outcomes, diet-switch benefits females more and exercise benefits males more; for both sexes 3) exercise training is more effective in preventing fatty liver than diet-switch, and 4) both diet-switch and exercise promote fat oxidation in muscles. Disclosure J. An: None. L. Zhu: None. S. Yu: None. E. Edington: None. B. Litts: None. J. M. Stafford: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (R01HL144846)

SIRT7 regulates lipogenesis in adipocytes through deacetylation of PPARγ2.

Aims/IntroductionPeroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐γ2 is a transcription factor crucial for regulating adipogenesis and glucose/lipid metabolism, and synthetic PPARγ ligands, such as thiazolidinediones, are effective oral medication for type 2 diabetes. Sirtuin 7 (SIRT7), a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide‐dependent deacetylase, also controls metabolism. However, it is not known whether SIRT7 regulates the function of PPARγ2 by its deacetylation.Materials and MethodsPhysical interaction between SIRT7 and PPARγ2, the effect of SIRT7 on PPARγ2 acetylation, and the deacetylation residue targeted by SIRT7 were investigated. The effects of PPARγ2 K382 acetylation on lipid accumulation, gene expression in C3H10T1/2 cell‐derived adipocytes, and ligand‐dependent transactivation activity were also evaluated.ResultsWe demonstrated that SIRT7 binds to PPARγ2 and deacetylates PPARγ2 at K382. C3H10T1/2‐derived adipocytes expressing PPARγ2K382Q (a mimic of acetylated K) accumulated much less fat than adipocytes expressing wild‐type PPARγ2 or PPARγ2K382R (a mimic of nonacetylated K). Global gene expression analysis of adipocytes expressing PPARγ2K382Q revealed that K382Q caused the dysregulation of a set of genes involved in lipogenesis, including Srebp1c, Acaca, Fasn, and Scd1. The rosiglitazone‐dependent transcriptional activity of PPARγ2K382Q was reduced compared with that of PPARγ2K382R.ConclusionOur findings indicate that SIRT7‐dependent PPARγ2 deacetylation at K382 controls lipogenesis in adipocytes.

The Combined Influence of Magnesium and Insulin on Central Metabolic Functions and Expression of Genes Involved in Magnesium Homeostasis of Cultured Bovine Adipocytes.

At the onset of lactation, dairy cows suffer from insulin resistance, insulin deficiency or both, similar to human diabetes, resulting in lipolysis, ketosis and fatty liver. This work explored the combined effects of different levels of magnesium (0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 mM) and insulin (25, 250 and 25,000 pM) on metabolic pathways and the expression of magnesium-responsive genes in a bovine adipocyte model. Magnesium starvation (0.1 mM) and low insulin (25 pM) independently decreased or tended to decrease the accumulation of non-polar lipids and uptake of the glucose analog 6-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-6-deoxyglucose (6-NBDG). Activity of glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) was highest at 25 pM insulin and 3 mM magnesium. Expression of SLC41A1 and SLC41A3 was reduced at 0.1 mM magnesium either across insulin concentrations (SLC41A1) or at 250 pM insulin (SLC41A3). MAGT1 expression was reduced at 3 mM magnesium. NIPA1 expression was reduced at 3 mM and 0.1 mM magnesium at 25 and 250 pM insulin, respectively. Expression of SLC41A2, CNNM2, TRPM6 and TRPM7 was not affected. We conclude that magnesium promotes lipogenesis in adipocytes and inversely regulates the transcription of genes that increase vs. decrease cytosolic magnesium concentration. The induction of GAPDH activity by surplus magnesium at low insulin concentration can counteract excessive lipomobilization.

Preclinical Characterization of Once Weekly Basal Insulin Fc (BIF)

Weekly basal insulin injections may increase treatment adherence in subjects with diabetes and an appropriately engineered weekly basal insulin may reduce daily pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) fluctuations compared to currently available daily basal insulins. Therefore, a weekly insulin has the potential to not only ease the burden of insulin therapy, but also improve outcomes for subjects with diabetes in a real-world setting. Basal insulin Fc (BIF, LY3209590) is an insulin Fc-fusion protein in clinical testing as a once weekly treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM, T2DM). BIF is comprised of a human single-chain insulin fused to a human IgG2 Fc domain through a peptide linker. The in vitro evaluation determined that BIF exhibited reduced insulin receptor (IR) potency with full agonism, selectivity against human insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (hIGF-1R), and functional properties similar to native human insulin. The binding affinity of BIF for hIR isoform A, Ki = 25 nM (SEM = 4, n=10), and hIR isoform B, Ki = 26 nM (SEM = 4, n=10), was more than two orders of magnitude weaker than human insulin. BIF stimulated IR phosphorylation in cells with reduced potency, but full agonism, and showed a significantly faster hIR dephosphorylation profile than either human insulin or AspB10 insulin. BIF stimulated de novo lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and cell proliferation in SAOS-2 and H4IIE cells with at least a 70-fold reduction in potency compared to human insulin. BIF possessed markedly reduced binding and activation of hIGF-1R making definitive mitogenic measurements unattainable. In preclinical in vivo pharmacology studies using streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic rats, a statistically significant decrease in blood glucose compared to vehicle-treated animals was seen 24 hours post-injection and persisted through 336 hours post-injection following a single subcutaneous administration (30 nmol/kg) of BIF. In STZ-treated rats, BIF reached a Tmax at 48 hours, possessed an apparent clearance rate of ~0.85 mL/hr/kg, and t1/2 of ~120 hrs. Collectively, these results demonstrate that BIF possesses selective IR agonism with a pharmacological profile similar to native insulin, however with a significantly reduced potency, and a significantly extended time action profile in preclinical animal models supporting once weekly testing in the clinic.

Capmatinib attenuates lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase-dependent pathway

Recently, there is a rapid increase in the incidence of obesity, a condition for which there are no effective therapeutic agents. Capmatinib (CAP), a novel mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition inhibitor, is reported to attenuate pro-inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress. In this study, the effects of CAP on lipogenesis in the adipocytes were examined. Treatment with CAP dose-dependently suppressed lipid accumulation in, and differentiation of, and increased lipolysis in, 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Additionally, CAP treatment augmented adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and FNDC5 expression in the adipocytes. Transfection with si-AMPK or si-FNDC5 mitigated the CAP-induced suppression of lipogenesis and enhanced lipolysis. Furthermore, transfection with si-FNDC5 mitigated the CAP-induced phosphorylation of AMPK. These results suggest that the anti-obesity effect of CAP is mediated through the irisin/AMPK pathway and that CAP is a novel therapeutic agent for obesity.

Adipose-specific knockout of Protein Kinase D1 suppresses de novo lipogenesis in mice via SREBP1c-dependent signaling

Having healthy adipose tissue is essential for metabolic health, as excessive adipose tissue in the body can cause its dysregulation and driving chronic metabolic diseases. Protein kinase D1 (PKD1) is considered to be a key kinase in signal transduction, which regulates multiple cellular functions, but its physiological functions in adipose are still not fully understood. This study aimed at elucidating the function of adipocyte PKD1 on lipogenesis. From RNA-Sequencing data, we found that the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway in white adipose tissue lacking PKD1 was significantly affected. Critical rate-limiting enzymes for de novo lipogenesis in adipocytes, such as FASN, ACCα, and SCD1, were significantly repressed after deleting PKD1 in vivo and in vitro. Further studies revealed that blockade of PKD1 significantly increased phosphorylation of SREBP1c at serine 372 site. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis showed that PKD1 interacts with SREBP1c in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, overexpression of SREBP1c reversed the inhibition of FASN and ACCα expression caused by PKD1 silencing. Together, adipocyte PKD1 promotes de novo lipogenesis via SREBP1c-dependent manner in visceral white adipose tissue and might provide a new target for the development of anti-obesity therapies.

HAQ and AQ-MPYS Modulate Fatty Acid Metabolism and Immune Tolerance at Homoeostasis

MPYS/STING senses cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) and promotes inflammation. During out-of-Africa early human migration, common human MPYS alleles R71H-G230A-R293Q (HAQ) replaced G230A-R293Q (AQ) suggesting a strong natural selection on human MPYS. Using HAQ and AQ knock-in mice, we found that HAQ mice had more fat mass than the AQ mice on a chow diet supporting the thrifty gene hypothesis. Mechanistically, adult AQ or MPYS-/- mice had more epididymal adipose tissue (eWAT) suppressive regulatory T cells and M2-macrophages than HAQ or WT mice at the steady-state. Conditional knockout mice and adoptive cell transfer indicated a cell-intrinsic control of fatty acid metabolism and immune tolerance by MPYS. Unlike the HAQ mice, which are defective in CDNs responses, the AQ mice retain CDNs responses. Finally, MPYS interacts with fatty acid metabolites acyl-CoA, lysophosphatidic acid, phosphatidic acid, and diglyceride at the steady-state. MPYS/STING ligand ADU-S100 inhibited lipogenesis in white adipocytes. Together, we propose that HAQ has a pro-lipogenesis function that is more important than the CDNs sensing function of AQ in early humans revealing a fundamental function of human MPYS.

Lactate augments intramuscular triglyceride accumulation and mitochondrial biogenesis in rats.

Regular exercise induces intramuscular triglyceride accumulation with improved mitochondrial ability, but the mechanism remains unknown. The glycolytic product of exercise, lactate, has long been rec-ognized to suppress lipolysis and promote lipogenesis in adipocytes through inhibition of the cAMP-PKA pathway by activation of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPR81). However, whether lactate results in a similar process in skeletal muscle is unclear. Here, by using intramuscular injection of lactate to the gastrocnemius, the lipid metabolism effects were investigated in rat skeletal muscle. Firstly, the lactate-injection effect was verified by comparing changes in blood lactate levels from injection and exercise (30 min, 31 m/min, treadmill running). After five weeks of lactate intervention, intramuscular triglyceride levels in the gastrocnemius and the proportion of epididymis adipose mass to body weight increased. Chronic intramuscular injection of lactate elevated lactate receptor, GPR81, and reduced cAMP response element-binding (CREB) and P-CREB abundance in the gastrocnemius. Additionally, there was a significant decline in lipolytic-related proteins (AMPK, P-AMPK, P-HSL, CPT-1B, TGF-β2, SDHA) and a significant increase in fat synthesis proteins (SREBP-1C, PPAR-γ). Surprisingly, mitochondrial biomarkers (PGC-1α, CS) were also increased in the gastrocnemius, suggesting that chronic lactate might promote mitochondria biogenesis. Together, these results demonstrated that lactate may play a crucial role in triglyceride storage and mitochondria biogenesis in the skeletal muscle of rat.

CU06-1004 Modulates the Adenosine Monophosphate (AMP)-Associated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Signaling Pathway and Inhibits Lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

CU06-1004 Modulates the Adenosine Monophosphate (AMP)-Associated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Signaling Pathway and Inhibits Lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Both proliferation and lipogenesis of brown adipocytes contribute to postnatal brown adipose tissue growth in mice

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is the primary non-shivering thermogenesis organ in mammals, which plays essential roles in maintaining the body temperature of infants. Although the development of BAT during embryogenesis has been well addressed in rodents, how BAT grows after birth remains unknown. Using mouse interscapular BAT (iBAT) as an example, we studied the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate postnatal BAT growth. By analyzing the developmental dynamics of brown adipocytes (BAs), we found that BAs size enlargement partially accounts for iBAT growth. By investigating the BAs cell cycle activities, we confirmed the presence of proliferative BAs in the neonatal mice. Two weeks after birth, most of the BAs exit cell cycle, and the further expansion of the BAT was mainly due to lipogenesis-mediated BAs volume increase. Microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses suggest that most BAs are mononuclear and diploid. Based on the developmental dynamics of brown adipocytes, we propose that the murine iBAT has two different growth phases between birth and weaning: increase of BAs size and number in the first two weeks, and BAs size enlargement thereafter. In summary, our data demonstrate that both lipogenesis and proliferation of BAs contribute to postnatal iBAT growth in mice.

Herbal Combination of Phyllostachys pubescens and Scutellaria baicalensis Inhibits Adipogenesis and Promotes Browning via AMPK Activation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

To investigate the anti-obesity effects and underlying mechanism of BS21, a combination of Phyllostachys pubescens leaves and Scutellaria baicalensis roots was used to investigate the effects of BS21 on adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The expression of adipocyte-specific genes was observed via Western blot, and the BS21 chemical profile was analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). BS21 treatment inhibited adipocyte differentiation and reduced the expression of the adipogenic proteins peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP-α), and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), as well as the lipogenic proteins sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and fatty-acid synthase (FAS). BS21 enhanced protein levels of the beta-oxidation genes carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT1) and phospho-acetyl-coA carboxylase (p-ACC). BS21 also induced protein expressions of the browning marker genes PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC1α), and uncoupling protein (UCP) 1, and it induced the expression of the thermogenic gene UCP2. Furthermore, BS21 increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. UPLC analysis showed that BS21 contains active constituents such as chlorogenic acid, orientin, isoorientin, baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, tricin, wogonin, and chrysin. Our findings demonstrate that BS21 plays a modulatory role in adipocytes by reducing adipogenesis and lipogenesis, increasing fat oxidation, and inducing browning.

Palmitoleic Acid Decreases Non-alcoholic Hepatic Steatosis and Increases Lipogenesis and Fatty Acid Oxidation in Adipose Tissue From Obese Mice.

We recently demonstrated that palmitoleic acid (C16:1n7), a monounsaturated fatty acid, increases the metabolic and oxidative capacity of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Herein, the effect of 16:1n7 supplementation on metabolic parameters on white adipose tissue (WAT) and liver of obese mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) was addressed by analyzing metabolic (dys)function and altered genes expression in adipose tissue, as well as liver and serum biochemistry analysis. For this purpose, mice were induced to obesity for 8 weeks, and from the 5th week, they received 16:1n7 (300 mg/kg per day) or water for 30 days, by gavage. Subcutaneous inguinal (ING) and epididymal (EPI) WAT were removed for analysis of metabolic, (anti)inflammatory, adipogenic, and thermogenic genes expression by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, metabolic activities of isolated adipocytes, such as glucose uptake, lipogenesis (triacylglycerol esterification), β-oxidation, and lipolysis in ING adipocytes, were also assessed. Despite the higher fat intake, the HFD group showed lower food intake but higher body weight, increased glucose, significant dyslipidemia, and increased liver and adipose depot mass, accompanied by liver steatosis. The 16:1n7 supplementation slowed down the body mass gain and prevented the increase of lipids in the liver. HFD+n7 animals presented increased fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis compared to control, but no effect was observed on lipolysis and glucose uptake in ING isolated adipocytes. Besides, 16:1n7 increased the content of the mRNA encoding FABP4, but partially prevented the expression of genes encoding ATGL, HSL, perilipin, lipin, C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, C/EBP-β, CPT1, NRF1, TFAM, PRDM16, and nitric oxide synthase 2 in ING depot from HFD group of animals. Finally, HFD increased Mcp1 and Tnfα expression, and 16:1n7 promoted a more marked increase in it. In summary, the data show that palmitoleic acid promotes metabolic changes and partially prevents the increase in gene expression on adipocytes triggered by obesity, suggesting that HFD+n7 animals do not require the same magnitude of metabolic adaptation to cope with energy demand from the HFD. In the long term, the effects of 16:1n7 may be more evident and beneficial for the function/dysfunction of WAT from an obese organism, with relevant repercussions in the systemic metabolic homeostasis.

Short-term administration of spexin in rats reduces obesity by affecting lipolysis and lipogenesis: An in vivo and in vitro study

The present study aimed to characterize the role of spexin (SPX) in maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis in vivo in rats with diet-induced obesity. The in vitro effect of spexin on metabolic and endocrine functions of adipocytes isolated from obese rats was also investigated. The in vivo experiment was conducted on rats with diet-induced obesity and administered with SPX for 7 days. Lipid and carbohydrate parameters, liver markers, and hormonal profile were measured. In in vitro studies, adipocytes isolated from obese rats were used. The effect of SPX on lipolysis, lipogenesis, and leptin secretion from fat cells was assessed. The results showed that short-term administration of SPX causes weight loss, increases insulin sensitivity, and improves the metabolic state of obese rats. The in vitro experiments showed that spexin and its receptors, namely galanin receptor 2 (GALR2) and galanin receptor 3 (GALR3), were expressed in various fat depots and in adipocytes from obese rats. We also found that the addition of spexin increased the basal and isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis and reduced the basal and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis in adipocytes isolated from obese rats. Molecular analysis showed that SPX activated hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) phosphorylation and upregulated perilipin and HSL mRNA expression. These results suggest that SPX regulates metabolism of obese rats by affecting lipolysis and lipogenesis in adipocytes. Moreover, the present study for the first time demonstrates that SPX modulates leptin synthesis and secretion from isolated adipocytes.

Insulin signaling requires glucose to promote lipid anabolism in adipocytes

Adipose tissue is essential for metabolic homeostasis, balancing lipid storage and mobilization based on nutritional status. This is coordinated by insulin, which triggers kinase signaling cascades to modulate numerous metabolic proteins, leading to increased glucose uptake and anabolic processes like lipogenesis. Given recent evidence that glucose is dispensable for adipocyte respiration, we sought to test whether glucose is necessary for insulin-stimulated anabolism. Examining lipogenesis in cultured adipocytes, glucose was essential for insulin to stimulate the synthesis of fatty acids and glyceride-glycerol. Importantly, glucose was dispensable for lipogenesis in the absence of insulin, suggesting that distinct carbon sources are used with or without insulin. Metabolic tracing studies revealed that glucose was required for insulin to stimulate pathways providing carbon substrate, NADPH, and glycerol 3-phosphate for lipid synthesis and storage. Glucose also displaced leucine as a lipogenic substrate and was necessary to suppress fatty acid oxidation. Together, glucose provided substrates and metabolic control for insulin to promote lipogenesis in adipocytes. This contrasted with the suppression of lipolysis by insulin signaling, which occurred independently of glucose. Given previous observations that signal transduction acts primarily before glucose uptake in adipocytes, these data are consistent with a model whereby insulin initially utilizes protein phosphorylation to stimulate lipid anabolism, which is sustained by subsequent glucose metabolism. Consequently, lipid abundance was sensitive to glucose availability, both during adipogenesis and in Drosophila flies in vivo Together, these data highlight the importance of glucose metabolism to support insulin action, providing a complementary regulatory mechanism to signal transduction to stimulate adipose anabolism.

Peripancreatic adipose tissue protects against high-fat-diet-induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in mice

Background/objectivesVisceral adiposity is associated with increased diabetes risk, while expansion of subcutaneous adipose tissue may be protective. However, the visceral compartment contains different fat depots. Peripancreatic adipose tissue (PAT) is an understudied visceral fat depot. Here, we aimed to define PAT functionality in lean and high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice.Subjects/methodsFour adipose tissue depots (inguinal, mesenteric, gonadal, and peripancreatic adipose tissue) from chow- and HFD-fed male mice were compared with respect to adipocyte size (n = 4–5/group), cellular composition (FACS analysis, n = 5–6/group), lipogenesis and lipolysis (n = 3/group), and gene expression (n = 6–10/group). Radioactive tracers were used to compare lipid and glucose metabolism between these four fat depots in vivo (n = 5–11/group). To determine the role of PAT in obesity-associated metabolic disturbances, PAT was surgically removed prior to challenging the mice with HFD. PAT-ectomized mice were compared to sham controls with respect to glucose tolerance, basal and glucose-stimulated insulin levels, hepatic and pancreatic steatosis, and gene expression (n = 8–10/group).ResultsWe found that PAT is a tiny fat depot (~0.2% of the total fat mass) containing relatively small adipocytes and many “non-adipocytes” such as leukocytes and fibroblasts. PAT was distinguished from the other fat depots by increased glucose uptake and increased fatty acid oxidation in both lean and obese mice. Moreover, PAT was the only fat depot where the tissue weight correlated positively with liver weight in obese mice (R = 0.65; p = 0.009). Surgical removal of PAT followed by 16-week HFD feeding was associated with aggravated hepatic steatosis (p = 0.008) and higher basal (p < 0.05) and glucose-stimulated insulin levels (p < 0.01). PAT removal also led to enlarged pancreatic islets and increased pancreatic expression of markers of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and islet development (p < 0.05).ConclusionsPAT is a small metabolically highly active fat depot that plays a previously unrecognized role in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in advanced obesity.

AQP7 mediates post-menopausal lipogenesis in adipocytes through FSH-induced transcriptional crosstalk with AP-1 sites

Research questionFat accumulation is present in most post-menopausal women, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Aquaporin 7 (AQP7) is the most important glycerol channel facilitating glycerol efflux in adipocytes. High circulating FSH in post-menopausal women may play an independent role in regulation of the lipogenic effect of AQP7 in adipocytes. This study explored the role of AQP7 in the pathophysiology of post-menopausal lipogenesis mediated by high concentrations of circulating FSH. DesignPrimary adipocytes from post-menopausal and childbearing women were analysed. An in-vivo post-menopausal animal model was established. AQP7 expression, lipid accumulation and glycerol concentration in adipocytes were measured. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed to identify transcriptional crosstalk in AQP7 promoter. ResultsIt was found that FSH down-regulated AQP7 expression and glycerol efflux function in mature adipocytes of post-menopausal women and ovariectomized (OVX) mice. In vitro, FSH inhibited lipid accumulation in primary cultured mature adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner and the mechanism was down-regulating AQP7 expression via a FSH receptor pathway. The effect of FSH on AQP7 in adipocytes was through activation of cAMP response element-binding (CREB) protein, which could bind to activator protein-1 (AP-1) sites in the AQP7 promoter, and therefore inhibited the transcriptional activation elicited by c-Jun. ConclusionsDown-regulation of AQP7 by FSH mediated post-menopausal lipogenesis, and the role of FSH was based on binding competition for AP-1 sites between CREB and c-Jun.

Tartronic acid promotes de novo lipogenesis and inhibits CPT-1β by upregulating acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA

As a dicarboxylic acid with the structural formula HOOCCH (OH) COOH, tartronic acid is considered as an inhibitor of the transformation of carbohydrates into fat under fat-deficient diet conditions. However, the effect of tartronic acid on lipogenesis under high-fat diet conditions has yet to be established. In this work, we investigated the regulatory role of tartronic acid in lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C57BL/6J mice. The results confirmed that tartronic acid promoted weight gain (without affecting food intake) and induced adipocyte hypertrophy in epididymal white adipose tissue and lipid accumulation in the livers of high-fat diet-induced obese mice. In vitro, tartronic acid promoted 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation by increasing the protein expression of FABP-4, PPARγ and SREBP-1. Moreover, the contents of both acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA were significantly upregulated by treatment with tartronic acid, while the protein expression of CPT-1β were inhibited. In summary, we proved that tartronic acid promotes lipogenesis by serving as substrates for fatty acid synthesis and inhibiting CPT-1β, providing a new perspective for the study of tartronic acid.

Administration of kynurenic acid reduces hyperlipidemia-induced inflammation and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and adipocytes

Kynurenic acid (KA), an endogenous product of L-tryptophan metabolism in the kynurenine pathway, regulates adipose tissue energy homeostasis and inflammation. However, its role in palmitate-induced insulin resistance and detailed underlying mechanisms in skeletal muscles and adipose tissues are unclear. Herein, we report that KA ameliorated palmitate-induced inflammation and insulin resistance in differentiated C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cell lines as well as soleus skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissues in mice. Palmitate-induced inflammatory markers, such as nuclear factor κB translocation, inhibitory κBα phosphorylation, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and impaired insulin signaling, were markedly attenuated by KA both in vitro and in vivo. KA significantly increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) expressions in C2C12 myocytes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes and skeletal muscle and adipose tissues of mice. siRNA-mediated AMPK or SIRT6 inhibition significantly mitigated the suppressive effects of KA on palmitate-induced inflammation and insulin resistance. KA significantly stimulated expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation in C2C12 myocytes and skeletal muscle of mice. Moreover, KA inhibits lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. AMPK or SIRT6 siRNA markedly reversed these changes. The siRNA targeting Gpr35 abrogated the effects of KA on AMPK phosphorylation in C2C12 myocytes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes, except SIRT6 expression. It has therefore been shown that KA could potentially alleviate inflammation and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues through Gpr35/AMPK and SIRT6-mediated pathways.

Attenuation of Adipogenesis and Lipogenesis by Baby Ginger in 3T3L1 Adipocytes

Abstract Objectives To determine the phenolic content and anti-oxidation properties of ginger at different harvesting time and to test its effects on lipid droplet and triglyceride formation, and expression of genes for adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3L1 adipocytes. Methods The biweekly ginger samples for 16 weeks were freeze dried and then extracted in 80% Methanol. The total phenolic content was determined using the Folin- Ciocalteu method and analysis of antioxidation activity was determined using 2, 2- Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS•+) chemical assays and 2’, 7’-Dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA cellular method. The ginger samples were analyzed to determine major phytochemicals including gingerol, paradol, and shogaol, using a HPLC system. The effect of baby ginger on lipid droplet formation in 3T3 adipocytes was determined using Oil Red'O staining and concentration of Triglycerides was assayed using a commercial kit. Expression of CREPB1, C/EBPβ, and PPARγ genes for adipogenesis and ACC and PEPCK genes for lipogenesis was determined by qRT-PCR. Results Ginger has the highest content of phenolic compounds and superior anti-oxidation activity when harvested early (baby ginger); however, the concentration of phenolic compounds and its anti-oxidation activity were progressively reduced up to 50% as ginger matures. Furthermore, ginger reduced oil droplet accumulation by 25%-40% in a dose dependent manner, which consequently resulted in 50% inhibition of triglycerides accumulation in the adipocytes. Ginger treatment of 3T3 cells inhibited expression of adipogenesis genes CEBPβ and PPARγ and lipogenesis genes ACC and PEPCK. Conclusions Our results suggest harvesting of ginger at appropriate (early) time to optimize or maintain the qualitative and quantitative levels of biological active compounds. The data also suggest that a regular use of ginger can potentially lower incidences of obesity and obesity-related complications, a growing concern in the USA. Funding Sources The Center for Agricultural Research, Engagement &amp; Outreach (CAREO), Virginia State University.