Taste 2 Receptor Is Involved in Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes.

Expression of taste 2 receptor (T2R) genes, also known as bitter taste receptor genes, has been reported in a variety of tissues. The white adipose tissue of mice has been shown to express , , , , and , but the function of T2Rs in adipocytes remains unclear. Here, we show that fasting and stimulation by bitter compounds both increased expression in mouse white adipose tissue, and serum starvation and stimulation by bitter compounds both increased the expression of genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, suggesting that T2Rs have functional roles in adipocytes. RNA sequencing analysis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes stimulated by epicatechin, the ligand of Tas2r126, suggested that this receptor may play a role in the differentiation of adipocytes. Overexpression of in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes decreases fat accumulation after induction of differentiation and reduces the expression of adipogenic genes. Together, these results indicate that Tas2r126 may be involved in adipocyte differentiation.