title: Xanthohumol influences preadipocyte differentiation: implication of antiproliferative and apoptotic effects.
abstract: There is interest in the research of natural compounds that may interfere with the adipocyte life cycle, due to the growing prevalence of obesity and related complications. We aimed at studying the effect of xanthohumol (XN), a Humulus lupulus L. prenylflavonoid, on adipocytes measuring differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 cells. XN reduced differentiation, as revealed by decreased lipid content and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma expression, an effect more pronounced when cells were treated before or during differentiation induction. XN also decreased proliferation, as measured by sulforhodamine staining (IC(50) between 26 and 12 microM for 24, 48, and 72 h), and preadipocyte Ki67 expression. Apoptosis was increased in preadipocytes and adipocytes. NF-kappaB activity was stimulated by XN in preadipocytes. Results suggest that XN may reduce adipocyte number, contributing to adipocyte hypertrophy. Taking into consideration the consequences of adipocyte hypertrophy, XN does not seem to improve the metabolic profile associated with obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry (U38-FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernani Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vanda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Rosário
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pestana
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calhau
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Azevedo
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027582:Humulus / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011427:Propiophenones; C104536:xanthohumol