title: Flavanone exhibits PPARgamma ligand activity and enhances differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
abstract: Flavanones are class of polyphenolic compounds, some of which are found in foods and provide health benefits. In this study, we show that flavanone significantly enhances differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. During adipogenesis, flavanone enhanced expression of genes and accumulation of proteins that are involved in adipocyte function. Some reports have indicated that flavanone inhibits proliferation of mammalian cells, and down-regulates expression of growth-related proteins. Such proteins include phosphorylated ERK1/2, cyclins, and Cdks that are important for an early event in adipogenesis, mitotic clonal expansion (MCE). We demonstrated that flavanone did not inhibit MCE or expression of MCE-related proteins, except for a modest inhibition of cyclin D1 expression. Using luciferase reporter assays, we found that flavanone acted as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) ligand in a dose-dependent manner. Together, our results suggest that flavanone enhances adipogenesis, at least in part, through its PPARgamma ligand activity.
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural Research Center for Western Region, 1-3-1 Senyu-cho, Zentsuji 765-8508, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Daigo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekiya
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D044950:Flavanones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D044950:Flavanones; D008024:Ligands; D047495:PPAR gamma; C028610:flavanone