title: [Effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and to elucidate its possible mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was detected by XTT method. Lipid droplets accumulated in cytoplasm of the differentiated preadipocytes were observed by using red O staining and quantified by colorimetry. The expressions of peroxisome proliferation activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) and CAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP alpha) mRNAs and proteins were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  APS at different concentrations (0.025-0.8 g/L) affected 3T3-L1 preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation dose-dependently. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with 0.4 g/L APS had lots of lipid droplets in the cytoplasma, which were similar to cells treated with rosiglitazone (ROS). APS significantly increased the mRNA and protein expressions of PPAR gamma and C/EBP alpha (P<0.05, P<0.01, compared with the normal control group) in the course of 3T3-LI preadipocyte differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APS can promote the proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, enhance the accumulation of lipid drops, and increase the terminal differentiation of preadipocytes, which may be associated with its effects in increasing the expressions of PPAR gamma and C/EBP alpha mRNAs and proteins. The study suggests that APS has potential in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen-jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D047495:PPAR gamma; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger