Cordycepin promotes browning of white adipose tissue through an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent pathway.
10.1016/j.apsb.2018.10.004
- Author:
Guihong QI
1
;
Yue ZHOU
1
;
Xiaopo ZHANG
2
;
Jiaqi YU
1
;
Xin LI
1
;
Xiaoxue CAO
1
;
Chongming WU
1
;
Peng GUO
1
Author Information
1. Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
2. School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hainan Medical University, Hainan 571199, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK);
Browning of white adipose tissue (WAT);
Cordycepin;
Obesity;
Thermogenesis
- From:
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
2019;9(1):135-143
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. Promoting browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) contributes to increased energy expenditure and hence counteracts obesity. Here we show that cordycepin (Cpn), a natural derivative of adenosine, increases energy expenditure, inhibits weight gain, improves metabolic profile and glucose tolerance, decreases WAT mass and adipocyte size, and enhances cold tolerance in normal and high-fat diet-fed mice. Cpn markedly increases the surface temperature around the inguinal WAT and turns the inguinal fat browner. Further investigations show that Cpn induces the development of brown-like adipocytes in inguinal and, to a less degree, epididymal WAT depots. Cpn also increases the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and other thermogenic genes in WAT and 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes, in which AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays an important role. Our results provide novel insights into the function of Cpn in regulating energy balance, and suggest a potential utility of Cpn in the treatment of obesity.
