Inhibitory Effect of Vitamin U (S-Methylmethionine Sulfonium Chloride) on Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Pre-adipocyte Cell Lines.
- Author:
Na Young LEE
1
;
Kui Young PARK
;
Hye Jung MIN
;
Kye Yong SONG
;
Yun Young LIM
;
Juhee PARK
;
Beom Joon KIM
;
Myeung Nam KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Adipocyte differentiation; S-methylmethionine sulfonium chloride; Vitamin U
- MeSH: 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine; Adipocytes; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Cell Line; Complement Factor D; Digestive System; Down-Regulation; Fatty Acid Synthetase Complex; Flowers; Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase; Insulin; Lipoproteins; Triglycerides; Ulcer; Up-Regulation; Vitamin U; Vitamins
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2012;24(1):39-44
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: S-methylmethionine sulfonium chloride was originally called vitamin U because of its inhibition of ulceration in the digestive system. Vitamin U is ubiquitously expressed in the tissues of flowering plants, and while there have been reports on its hypolipidemic effect, its precise function remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of vitamin U in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell lines. METHODS: We cultured the pre-adipocyte cell line 3T3L1 to overconfluency and then added fat differentiation-inducing media (dexamethasone, IBMX [isobutylmethylxanthine], insulin, indomethacin) and different concentrations (10, 50, 70, 90, 100 mM) of vitamin U. Then, we evaluated changes in the levels of triglycerides (TGs), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), adipocyte-specific markers (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma [PPAR-gamma], CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha [C/EBP-alpha], adipocyte differentiation and determination factor 1 [ADD-1], adipsin, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase) and apoptosis-related signals (Bcl-2, Bax). RESULTS: There was a gradual decrease in the level of TGs, C/EBP-alpha, PPAR-gamma, adipsin, ADD-1 and GPDH activity with increasing concentrations of vitamin U. In contrast, we observed a significant increase in AMPK activity with increasing levels of vitamin U. The decrease in bcl-2 and increase in Bax observed with increasing concentrations of vitamin U in the media were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that vitamin U inhibits adipocyte differentiation via down-regulation of adipogenic factors and up-regulation of AMPK activity.
