title: Abietic acid activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) in RAW264.7 macrophages and 3T3-L1 adipocytes to regulate gene expression involved in inflammation and lipid metabolism.
abstract: Abietic acid is one of the terpenoids, which are multifunctional natural compounds. It has been reported that abietic acid suppresses effects on inflammation. However, the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects remains unclear. The present work indicates that abietic acid suppresses the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cyclooxygenase 2, which are involved in inflammation, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Moreover, this effect resembles that of thiazolidinedione, a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) ligand. Indeed, abietic acid activates PPARgamma in luciferase reporter assays. The activity of abietic acid induces PPARgamma target gene expression in RAW264.7 macrophages and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These data indicate that abietic acid is a PPARgamma ligand and that its anti-inflammatory effect is partly due to the activation of PPARgamma in stimulated macrophages. The present work suggests a novel possibility that abietic acid, a naturally occurring compound, can be used not only for anti-inflammation but also for regulating lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Chu-Sook
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taimatsu
authors.forename: Kahori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egawa
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jisaka
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Kazushige
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fushiki
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D045784:Abietanes; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D004224:Diterpenes; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C089946:2,4-thiazolidinedione; D008156:Luciferases; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; C494364:Crebbp protein, mouse; C023710:abietic acid