title: Berberine increases expression of GATA-2 and GATA-3 during inhibition of adipocyte differentiation.
abstract: It is known that a number of transcription factors are key regulators in the complex process of adipocyte differentiation including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) and the CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha). Studies have demonstrated that in pre-adipocyte 3T3-L1 cells constitutive expression of the DNA binding proteins GATA-2 and GATA-3 results in protein/protein interactions with C/EBPalpha resulting in down regulation of PPARgamma and subsequent suppressed adipocyte differentiation with cells trapped at the pre-adipocyte stage. Thus it appears that GATA-2 and GATA-3 are of critical importance in regulating adipocyte differentiation through molecular interactions with PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha. Recent reports suggest that berberine, an isoquinoline derivative alkaloid isolated from many medicinal herbs prevents differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells via a down regulation of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha expression. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of berberine on GATA-2 and 3 gene and protein expression levels during differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. MTT (Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) was used to detect the cytotoxic effects of berberine on the viability of 3T3-L1 cells during proliferation and differentiation. Differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells was monitored by Oil Red O staining and RT-PCR of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha and the expression of GATA-2 and 3 was determined by RT-PCR and Western Blot. Results show that following treatment with 8microM berberine the mRNA and protein expression levels of GATA-2 and 3 were elevated and accompanied by inhibited adipocyte differentiation. These results may lead to the use of berberine to target the induction of specific genes such as GATA-2 and GATA-3 which affect adipocyte differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494712:Gata2 protein, mouse; C494748:Gata3 protein, mouse; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001599:Berberine