Plant polysaccharides are effective components that widely present in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), exhibiting rich biological activities. However, as most plant polysaccharides cannot be directly absorbed and utilized by the human digestive system, it is now believed that their mode of action mainly involves interaction with intestinal microbiota, leading to the production of functional small molecules. The efficacy of Astragalus polysaccharide(APS) is extensive, including weight loss, improvement of fatty liver, reduction of blood lipids, and enhancement of insulin sensitivity, which may also be related to the regulation of intestinal microbiota. Adipose tissue senescence is an important characteristic of the physiological aging process in the body, often occurring prior to the aging of other important organs. Its main features include the accumulation of senescent cells and exacerbation of inflammation within the tissue. Therefore, to explore the potential protective effects of APS on aging, the improvement of adipose tissue aging phenotype in naturally aging mice was observed using APS, and combined with metagenomic metabolomics, corresponding microbial metabolic functional molecules were identified. Furthermore, functional tests in cell aging models were conducted. The results showed that APS significantly improved the adipocyte aging characteristics of naturally aging mice: specifically reducing aging-induced adipocyte hypertrophy; decreasing the protein expression of aging markers cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(P21) and multiple tumor suppressor 1(P16); lowering the tissue inflammation reaction. Metagenomic metabolomic analysis of serum from mice in each group revealed that APS significantly increased the content of indole-3-lactic acid(ILA) in naturally aging mice. Further in vitro studies showed that ILA could improve the aging of 3T3-L1 mouse embryonic fibroblasts induced by bleomycin, reduce the protein expression of the aging marker P21, alleviate inflammation, and enhance the ability of preadipocytes to mature. Therefore, APS had the efficacy of protecting naturally aging mice, and its action may be related to the increase in the intestinal microbiota metabolite ILA. This study suggested that TCM may serve as an important entry point for explaining the mechanism of action of TCM by regulating intestinal microbiota and their functional metabolites.
Animals ; Mice ; Aging/drug effects* ; Adipose Tissue/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Indoles/pharmacology* ; Male ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; 3T3-L1 Cells ; Humans ; Adipocytes/cytology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cellular Senescence/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*

Objective To explore the effect of the action time of inducers on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes. Methods According to the "Cocktail" method,3T3-L1 cells were divided into three groups according to the action time of inducers,with the action time being 2,3 or 4 days,respectively. Cell morphology was observed using inverted microscope and adipose content were detected by Oil red "O" staining and detection of triglyceride. The cell viability was identified by trypan blue staining method. Results The proportion of samples (n=12) with differentiation rate above 80% in group A was 66% (12/18),while the differentiation rate of all the samples (n=18)in group B and group C were above 80%. For the Oil red "O",the OD value at 510 nm in group C was 2.59±0.17,which was significantly higher than that in group A (2.12±0.47;F=6.62,P=0.0001)and group B (2.20±0.17;F=5.15,P=0.0001),while no significant difference was found between group A and group B (F=1.14,P=0.74). As for the triglyceride,the value in group C was (1351.04±119.01)ng/ml,which was significantly higher than that in group A[ (1077.88±272.75)ng/ml;F=6.73,P=0.001] and group B [(1089.38±115.39)ng/ml;F=5.78,P=0.001],while no difference was found between group A and group B (F=0.27,P=0.64). The cell viability in group A,B,and C was (98.3±1.2)%,(98.5±1.8)%,and (98.9±2.1)%,respectively,showing no significant difference (F=0.18,P=0.83). Conclusions The modified procedure for the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes can increase the differentiation rate and thus may be applied for establishing adipocyte models. The recommended action time is three days.
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Time Factors

Obesity is associated with a number of metabolic abnormalities such as type 2 diabetes and has become a major health problem worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Epimedium koreanum Nakai (Herba Epimedii, HE) and its main constituent icariin on the adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. HE extract and icariin significantly reduced lipid accumulation and suppressed the expressions of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP-1c in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. They also inhibited fatty acid synthase (FAS), acyl-Co A synthase (ACS1), and perilipin. Moreover, HE extract and icariin markedly increased the phosphorylation of AMPK. These results indicated that HE extract and icariin can inhibit the adipocyte differentiation through downregulation of the adipogenic transcription factors, suggesting that HE containing icariin may be used as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment and prevention of obesity.
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Adipogenesis ; drug effects ; Animals ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Mice ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; genetics ; metabolism

The present study was designed to synthesize and evaluate a series of benzylisoquinoline derivatives. These compounds were synthesized by Bischler-Napieralski cyclization to yield 1-benzyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines, and the products were obtained by reductions. All these compounds were identified by MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR. The inhibitory activities on pancreatic lipase and preadipocyte proliferation for the synthesized compounds and alkaloids from Nulembo nucifera were assessed in vitro. Most of the compounds showed inhibitory activities on both pancreatic lipase and preadipocyte proliferation. Particularly, compounds 7p-7u and 9d-9f exhibited significant inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase while compounds 7c, 7d, 7f, 7g, 7i, and 7j potently inhibited the proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Our results provided a basis for future evaluation and development of these compounds as leads for therapeutics for human diseases.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Benzylisoquinolines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lipase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship

This study was aimed to explore the regulation of arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) on imbalance between adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of BM-MSC from patients with aplastic anemia(AA). The BM-MSC from AA patients were separated and purified, placed into the adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation culture system, then added the As₂O₃, CsA, As₂O₃combined with CsA were added to corresponding differentiation culture system, the concentration of As₂O₃and CsA were set at 0.001 µmol/ml and 2.5 mmol/ml respectively, the cells were divided into As₂O₃group, the CsA group, combined group and control group (no drug). The cell morphological observation, oil red 'O' staining, Von-Kossa staining, and RT-PCR were used to detect corresponding differentiation marks. The results indicated that in respect to adipogenic differentiation, cellular morphology observing and oil red 'O' staining showed that the rate of adipocyte differentiation in As₂O₃group was (18.3 ± 1.9)%, which was lower than the (91.8 ± 2.7)% in the CsA group and (92.1 ± 1.2)% in control group (P < 0.05), there was no significant difference in comparison with (8.3 ± 1.9)% in the combined group (P > 0.05), but the rate of differentiation in CsA group was higher than that in combined group (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in comparison wtih control group. RT-PCR showed that the LPL-mRNA expression level in As₂O₃group were significantly lower than that in the CsA group and the control group (P < 0.05), no difference was observed while compared with the combined group (P > 0.05), but the LPL-mRNA expression level in CsA group was significantly higher than that in the combined group (P < 0.05). In terms of osteogenetic differentiation, the calcium deposition in As₂O₃group and combined group was obviously observed while rarely in the CsA group and the control group when detected by the Von-Kossa staining. OST-mRNA expression level in As₂O₃group were higher than that in CsA group and the control group (P < 0.05), while compared with the combined group, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05), but the OST-mRNA expression level in the CsA group was lower than that in the combined group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that As₂O₃can significantly enhance the ability of BM-MSC from AA patients to differentiate into osteoblast, also can inhibit the adipogenic differentiation, in contrast, the CsA can not promote the osteoblast differentiation of BM-MSC from AA patients.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Anemia, Aplastic ; pathology ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Bone Marrow ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Oxides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) on glycolipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and explore the mechanism.

METHODS3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with GLP-1, insulin, or both for 24 h, and Western blotting was used to analyze the expression levels of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), Akt1, Akt2 and phosphorylated Akt in the cells. Immunofluorescence was used to observe lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

RESULTSAkt1 and Akt2 were not activated by insulin stimulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Akt was phosphorylated by GLP-1 stimulation, which inhibited the expression of ATGL and increased the translocation of GLUT4 from the intracellular membranes to plasma membranes. These changes were more obvious under the synergistic effect of insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONGLP-1 decreases lipolysis by inhibiting the expression of ATGL and improves insulin resistance by increasing the translocation of GLUT4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Drug Synergism ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; pharmacology ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Intracellular Membranes ; metabolism ; Lipase ; metabolism ; Mice ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Transport ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Chinese medical recipes for invigorating Shen on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived preadipocytes' differentiation to osteoblasts.

METHODSThe BMSCs were cultured using whole bone marrow adherence wall method. The BMSCs were induced to preadipocytes by classic chemical method. The osteogenic differentiation process of preadipocytes was intervened by Liuwei Dihuang Pill (LDP), Jingui Shenqi Pill (JSP), or Jiangu Erxian Pill (JEP)-containing serums (with the concentRation of 10%, on behalf of tonifying Shen yin, tonifying Shen yang, and tonifying Shen essence). Reverse transcription-real time fluorescent quantitative-PCR (RT real time qPCR) was used to detect RUNX2, ALP, BGP, BMP2, BMP4, SPP1, and IGF1 mRNA expressions of osteogenic differentiation-related genes, mRNA expressions of LPL, FABP4, and PPARgamma of adipogenic differentiation-related genes on the 6th, the 12th, and the 18th day.

RESULTSAs for the osteogenic differentiation-related gene, when compared with the control group, there was no statistical difference in the gene expression level in the experimental groups on the 6th day (2.0 > Ratio > 0.5). On the 12th day, the mRNA expressions of IGF1 and Runx2 increased more significantly in the JSP group, with their relative quantification (Ratio) being 2.97 and 1.81 respectively. On the 18th day the IGF1 mRNA expression significantly increased, being the Ratio value of 3.74, 12.60, and 8.35, respectively, in the LDP group, the JSP group, and the JEP group. The SPP1 mRNA expression also significantly increased, with the Ratio value of 2.94, 3.18, and 2.62, respectively, in the LDP group, the JSP group, and the JEP group. As for adipogenic differentiation-related genes, on the 6th day, when compared with the control group, FABP4 mRNA expression significantly decreased in the LDP group and the JSP group (with the Ratio value of 0.47 and 0.40 respectively). The expression levels of other genes were all down-regulated, but not significantly. On the 12th day and 18th day, there was no statistical change in the adipogenic differentiation-related genes expressions (2.0 > Ratio > 0.5).

CONCLUSIONSUp-regulation of osteogenic differentiation-related genes expression occurred in later time, while down-regulation of adipogenic differentiation-related genes expression occurred in earlier time after treatment by Chinese medical recipes for invigorating Shen. In general, above data indicated that tonifying Shen yang was more effective in promoting osteogenic differentiation and inhibiting adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Our previous investigations demonstrated that varying sizes of loaded titanium particles could inhibit proliferaion, adhension and osteoblastic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). The present study aims to validate the hypothesis that particled-shaped wear debris from prosthetic implants influence the adipocytic differentiation of rBMSCs. The effects of different sizes of loaded titanium particles (6.9 microm, 2.7 microm and 0.9 microm) on the adipocytic differentiation of rBMSCs were studied by observing lipid droplet formation, assaying the expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mRNA by RT-PCR and Triglycerides (TG) secretion. The loaded titanium particles were found to influence adipogenesis of rBMSCs, but had different effects, depending upon particle size, concentration and loading time duration. 2.7 microm and 0.9 microm titanium particles promoted lipid droplet formation, LPL mRNA expression and TG secretion, while at a higher concentration of titanium particles and a longer loading duration, 6.9 microm titanium particles gradually inhibited adipogenic differentiation of rBMSCs. Three sizes of loading titanium particles obviously disturbed the adipocytic differentiation capability of rBMSCs: the smaller particles promoted but the larger inhibited the adipogenic differentiation of rBMSCs.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Joint Prosthesis ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Particle Size ; Prosthesis Failure ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Titanium ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathogenesis of tumors by blocking the normal differentiation process of stem cells.

METHODSBone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from rats were isolated, cultured and purified by whole bone marrow adherence method. The rat BMSCs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes with dexamethasone, insulin and indomethacin. Blockage of the differentiation process was induced by 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC).

RESULTSThe differentiation experiment showed that at 30 days after the induction, oil red O staining-positive cells occurred with increased intracytolasmic lipid droplets, characteristic for adipocytes. The differentiation blockage experiment showed that at 30 days after induction, the deposits of oil red O staining-cytoplasmic lipid droplets was significantly reduced, indicating that the blocked cells were adipocytes, but not fully differentiated. Morphological identification showed that cell contact inhibition disappeared, abnormal cell nuclei, increased number of micronucleus aberration and karyotype abnormalities, indicating that malignant transformation of the stem cells occurred after the differentiation blockage.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study show a blockage of the differentiation of that stem cells at the intermediate phase, and a tendency of malignant transformation of the stem cells. The results of our study provide new evidence that cancer stem cells may be originated by suppression of stem cell differentiation.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Methylcholanthrene ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of inducing the differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into Leydig cells in vitro.

METHODSWe isolated ADSCs by digestion with Collagenase I from the subcutaneous adipose tissue, cultured them in the DMEM/F12 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, and detected the expression of vimentin by immunohistochemistry. We exposed the ADSCs to different concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for different times, determined the expression of StAR mRNA by real-time PCR, and measured the HCG-induced proliferation of ADSCs by MTT. After a week of induction by HCG and DMSO, we conducted 3beta-HSD immunohistochemistry, and detected the testosterone level in the supernatant and lysis of the cells by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSThe ADSCs grew well with a positive expression of vimentin. The expression of the StAR gene was positively correlated with the increased concentration of HCG, reaching the peak at HCG 10 U/ml in 1 week culture. The proliferation of ADSCs was significantly increased by HCG induction. A positive expression of 3beta-HSD was observed after 1 week induction with HCG 10 U/ml and DMSO 3.2 x 10(-6)mol/L.

CONCLUSIONHCG enhances the expression of the StAR gene and the proliferation of ADSCs. Induced by HCG 10 U/ml and DMSO 3.2 x 10(-6) mol/L, ADSCs tend to differentiate into Leydig cells.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male