Anthocyanins inhibit lipogenesis during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2014 Jun;69(2):137-41. doi: 10.1007/s11130-014-0407-z.

Abstract

Anthocyanins have been shown to suppress body weight and fat mass in animal studies. However, the effect of anthocyanins on the process of lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation is not fully understood and the lipogenic transcription factors regulated by anthocyanins have not been identified. We investigated the effects of anthocyanins on lipogenesis pathways during adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Anthocyanins reduced triglyceride (TG) accumulation in a dose-dependent manner during adipocyte differentiation. Accumulation of TG was rapidly reversed by anthocyanin withdrawal. Anthocyanins markedly reduced gene and protein expression levels of lipogenic transcription factors such as liver X receptor α, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ, and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-α. In addition, the target gene and protein expression of these lipogenic transcription factors such as fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase α were markedly suppressed by anthocyanins. Thus, anthocyanins suppress lipid accumulation in adipocytes due to broad inhibition of the transcription factors regulating lipogenesis. This may partially explain the mechanism by which anthocyanins exert their anti-obesity effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells / drug effects
  • Adipocytes / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anthocyanins / pharmacology*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Lipogenesis / drug effects*
  • Liver X Receptors
  • Mice
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors / genetics
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors / metabolism
  • PPAR gamma / genetics
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / genetics
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / metabolism
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / genetics
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Triglycerides / metabolism

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
  • CEBPA protein, mouse
  • Liver X Receptors
  • Nr1h3 protein, mouse
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors
  • PPAR gamma
  • Srebf1 protein, mouse
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1
  • Transcription Factors
  • Triglycerides
  • Scd1 protein, mouse
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase