Pachymic acid promotes brown/beige adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism in preadipocytes 3T3-L1 MBX.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of pachymic acid on brown/beige adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism in preadipocytes 3T3-L1 MBX.

METHODS

The brown cocktail method was employed to induce 3T3-L1 MBX cells to differentiate into beige adipocytes. The impact of pachymic acid on the viability of 3T3-L1 MBX preadipocytes was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. The formation of lipid droplets following treatment with pachymic acid was observed through oil red O staining, and the content of lipids in differentiated cells was determined. The expression levels of key browning genes, including uncoupling protein (Ucp) 1, the peroxisome proliferation-activating receptor gamma coactivator (Pgc)-1α, and the transcription factor containing PR domain 16 (Prdm16) were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein (Srebp) 1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc), fatty acid synthetase (Fas), and steroid-sensitive lipase (Hsl), fatty triglyceride hydrolase (Atgl), and carnitine palmitoyl transferase (Cpt) 1 of lipolysis-related genes were also examined.

RESULTS

The 3T3-L1 MBX was induced to form beige adipocytes with high expression of key browning genes, including , , , and beige adipose-marker genes, including , , and . The concentration range of 0-80 μM pachymic acid was non-cytotoxic to 3T3-L1 MBX. Pachymic acid treatment significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 MBX, resulting in a notable decrease in lipid accumulation content (<0.01). Additionally, there was a marked increase in the expression of key browning genes and their proteins, such as Ucp1, Pgc-1α, and Prdm16, while the expressions of fat synthesis-related genes , and were significantly decreased (all 0.05). The expressions of lipolysis-related genes, including , , and , were significantly increased (all <0.05). Besides, treating with 20 μmol/L pachymic acid showed the most pronounced effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Pachymic acid can inhibit fat synthesis and promote lipid decomposition by regulating the brown formation and lipid differentiation of 3T3-L1 MBX preadipocytes.