LMO4 modulates proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Previous microarray analyses revealed that LMO4 is expressed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, however, its roles in adipogenesis are unknown. In the present study, using RT-PCR sequencing and quantitative real-time RT-PCR, we confirmed that LMO4 gene is expressed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and its expression peaks at the early stage of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Further analyses showed that LMO4 knockdown decreased the proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and attenuated the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, as evidenced by reduced lipid accumulation and down-regulation of PPARγ gene expression. Collectively, our findings indicate that LMO4 is a novel modulator of adipogenesis.     

MiR-185 inhibits 3T3-L1 cell differentiation by targeting SREBP-1

Adipogenesis involves a highly orchestrated series of complex events in which microRNAs (miRNAs) may play an essential role. In this study, we found that the miR-185 expression increased gradually during 3T3-L1 cells differentiation. To explore the role of miR-185 in adipogenesis, miRNA agomirs and antagomirs were used to perform miR-185 overexpression and knockdown, respectively. Overexpression of miR-185 dramatically reduced the mRNA expression of the adipogenic markers, PPARγ, FABP4, FAS, and LPL, and the protein level of PPARγ and FAS. MiR-185 overexpression also led to a notable reduction in lipid accumulation. In contrast, miR-185 inhibition promoted differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. By target gene prediction and luciferase reporter assay, we demonstrated that sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) may be the target of miR-185. These results indicate that miR-185 negatively regulates the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells by targeting SREBP-1, further highlighting the importance of miRNAs in adipogenesis.     

MicroRNA and 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested to play important roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. In this study, we examined miRNA expression profiles during 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation. We constructed miRNA libraries from pre- and post-differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, and identified the expression of 77 previously reported miRNAs and 3 new miRNAs. Next, we investigated the expression levels of 102 miRNAs, including those identified in the libraries, during adipogenesis by Northern blot analysis. Sixty-five miRNAs were detected and the expression of 21 miRNAs was up- or down-regulated during adipogenesis. Intriguingly, changes in the miRNA expression pattern were observed at day 9, when lipid droplets were visible, but not at days 1, 2, or 5 after the induction of differentiation. Antisense inhibition of the up-regulated miRNAs did not affect 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation. Although these miRNAs may be involved in modulating adipocyte function, mild down-modulations of the up-regulated miRNAs do not appear to affect 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation.     

Distinct Roles of the Phosphatidate Phosphatases Lipin 1 and 2 during Adipogenesis and Lipid Droplet Biogenesis in 3T3-L1 Cells

Lipins are evolutionarily conserved Mg²⁺-dependent phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP) enzymes with essential roles in lipid biosynthesis. Mammals express three paralogues: lipins 1, 2, and 3. Loss of lipin 1 in mice inhibits adipogenesis at an early stage of differentiation and results in a lipodystrophic phenotype. The role of lipins at later stages of adipogenesis, when cells initiate the formation of lipid droplets, is less well characterized. We found that depletion of lipin 1, after the initiation of differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells but before the loading of lipid droplets with triacylglycerol, results in a reciprocal increase of lipin 2, but not lipin 3. We generated 3T3-L1 cells where total lipin protein and PAP activity levels are down-regulated by the combined depletion of lipins 1 and 2 at day 4 of differentiation. These cells still accumulated triacylglycerol but displayed a striking fragmentation of lipid droplets without significantly affecting their total volume per cell. This was due to the lack of the PAP activity of lipin 1 in adipocytes after day 4 of differentiation, whereas depletion of lipin 2 led to an increase of lipid droplet volume per cell. We propose that in addition to their roles during early adipogenesis, lipins also have a role in lipid droplet biogenesis.     

Rheb过表达在前体脂肪细胞株3T3-L1分化中的作用

目的:利用前体脂肪细胞株3T3-L1细胞观察mTOR(mammalian target of rapamycin)信号通路中上游调控因子Rheb(Ras homolog enriched in brain)对其分化的影响。方法:利用高表达Rheb的基因重组质粒转染前体脂肪细胞株,3T3-L1。通过蛋白质免疫印迹实验鉴定质粒成功转染细胞后,诱导该细胞脂肪分化。予以分化第8天的3T3-L1细胞油红染色,并检测细胞内甘油三酯的含量。另外,我们用Western blot方法检测脂肪细胞特异性转录因子PPAR-γ(Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ)和C/EBP-α(CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein-α)的表达情况来研究Rheb在脂肪细胞分化过程中的作用。结果:我们成功构建了高表达Rheb的3T3-L1细胞株,发现高表达Rheb后可以促进脂滴的生成,油红O染色有显著区别,与对照组相比Rheb高表达组的三酰甘油含量明显升高(P0.05);C/EBP-α和PPAR-γ等脂肪细胞特异性的转录因子蛋白表达量与对照组相比也均有升高(P0.05)。结论:Rheb基因作为mTOR通路上游调控因子,可以促进脂肪细胞的分化。     

Phoenixin-14 stimulates differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes via cAMP/Epac-dependent mechanism

Phoenixin-14 (PNX) is a newly discovered peptide produced by proteolytic cleavage of the small integral membrane protein 20 (Smim20). Previous studies showed that PNX is involved in controlling reproduction, pain, anxiety and memory. Furthermore, in humans, PNX positively correlates with BMI suggesting a potential role of PNX in controlling fat accumulation in obesity. Since the influence of PNX on adipose tissue formation has not been so far demonstrated, we investigated the effects of PNX on proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes using 3T3-L1 and rat primary preadipocytes. We detected Smim20 and Gpr173 mRNA in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes as well as in rat primary preadipocytes. Furthermore, we found that PNX peptide is produced and secreted from 3T3-L1 and rat primary adipocytes. PNX increased 3T3-L1 preadipocytes proliferation and viability. PNX stimulated the expression of adipogenic genes (Pparγ, C/ebpβ and Fabp4) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiated in the presence of PNX had increased lipid content. Stimulation of cell proliferation and differentiation by PNX was also confirmed in rat preadipocytes. PNX failed to induce AKT phosphorylation, however, PNX increased cAMP levels in 3T3-L1 cells. Suppression of Epac signalling attenuated PNX-induced Pparγ expression without affecting cell proliferation. Our data show that PNX stimulates differentiation of 3T3-L1 and rat primary preadipocytes into mature adipocytes via cAMP/Epac-dependent pathway. In conclusion our data shows that phoenixin promotes white adipogenesis, thereby may be involved in controlling body mass regulation.     

Fucoxanthin exerts differing effects on 3T3-L1 cells according to differentiation stage and inhibits glucose uptake in mature adipocytes

Progression of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation is divided into early (days 0–2, D0–D2), intermediate (days 2–4, D2–D4), and late stages (day 4 onwards, D4-). In this study, we investigated the effects of fucoxanthin, isolated from the edible brown seaweed Petalonia binghamiae, on adipogenesis during the three differentiation stages of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. When fucoxanthin was applied during the early stage of differentiation (D0–D2), it promoted 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, as evidenced by increased triglyceride accumulation. At the molecular level, fucoxanthin increased protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), and aP2, and adiponectin mRNA expression, in a dose-dependent manner. However, it reduced the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1c during the intermediate (D2–D4) and late stages (D4–D7) of differentiation. It also inhibited the uptake of glucose in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes by reducing the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1). These results suggest that fucoxanthin exerts differing effects on 3T3-L1 cells of different differentiation stages and inhibits glucose uptake in mature adipocytes.     

Palmitoyl lactic acid induces adipogenesis and a brown fat-like phenotype in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Brown adipose tissue is specialized to generate heat by dissipating chemical energy and may provide novel strategies for obesity treatment in humans. Recently, advances in understanding the pharmacological and dietary agents that contribute to the browning of white adipose tissue have been made to alleviate obesity by promoting energy expenditure. Krill oil is widely used as a health supplement in humans. In this study, the components from krill oil that promote adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells were screened to reveal palmitoyl lactic acid (PLA) as a promoter of adipogenesis. The PLA-induced adipocytes contained large number of small lipid droplets. Moreover, similar to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ agonists, pioglitazone and rosiglitazone, PLA significantly enhances adipogenesis in the presence of dexamethasone compared with PLA alone. Treatment with PLA causes a brown fat-like phenotype in 3T3-L1 cells by enhanced expression of various brown/beige cell-specific genes, such as PR domain containing 16 (Prdm16) and peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha (Pgc1a), as well as adiponectin gene. The expression profile of the brown/beige cell-specific genes induced by PLA was similar to that of the PPARγ agonist in 3T3-L1 cells. Our findings suggest that PLA induces a brown fat-like phenotype and, thus, likely has therapeutic potential in treating obesity.     

Dicer has a crucial role in the early stage of adipocyte differentiation, but not in lipid synthesis, in 3T3-L1 cells

Dicer is a rate-limiting enzyme for microRNA (miRNA) synthesis. To determine the effects of Dicer on adipogenesis, we performed stage-specific knockdown of Dicer using adenovirus encoding short-hairpin RNAi against Dicer in 3T3-L1 cells. When cells were infected with the adenovirus before induction of adipocyte differentiation, Dicer RNAi suppressed the gene expression of inducers of adipocyte differentiation such as PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS in 3T3-L1 cells during adipocyte differentiation. Concurrently, both adipocyte differentiation and cellular lipid accumulation were cancelled by Dicer RNAi when compared with control RNAi. Meanwhile, we addressed the roles of Dicer in lipid synthesis and accumulation in the final stages of differentiation. When the differentiated cells at day 4 after induction of differentiation were infected with adenovirus Dicer RNAi, cellular lipid accumulation was unchanged. Consistent with this, Dicer RNAi had no effects on the expression of genes related to cellular lipid accumulation, including PPARγ and FAS. Thus, Dicer controls proadipogenic genes such as C/EBPα and PPARγ in the early, but not in the late, stage of adipogenesis via regulation of miRNA synthesis.