title: The molecular mechanism of the stimulation of adipocyte differentiation by a glucocorticoid.
abstract: The glucocorticoid dexamethasone (dex) stimulates differentiation of cultured preadipocytes of the 3T3-L1 cell line to adipocytes. The preadipocytes express a gene termed preadipocyte factor 1 (pref-1). The pref-1 gene product is abundant in preadipocytes but completely absent in adipocytes. Constitutive expression of pref-1 blocks differentiation of adipocytes, as does a soluble 50 kDa fragment of the pref-1 protein. It appears that dex mediates adipogenesis by down-regulating expression of pref-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley 94720-3104, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone