title: Naringenin chalcone improves adipocyte functions by enhancing adiponectin production.
abstract: Naringenin chalcone is a flavonoid contained in tomato peel. In this study, we investigated its effects on adipocyte functions related to metabolic processes, including adipocytokine production. Naringenin chalcone promoted the gene expression (8.0-fold, p<0.001) and protein secretion (2.2-fold, p<0.001) of adiponectin from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Reporter gene assays revealed that naringenin enhanced the activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. DNA microarray experiments and Gene Ontology analysis revealed that naringenin chalcone also up-regulated the genes associated with mitochondrial energy metabolism, reflecting its insulin-sensitizing effects. Conversely, genes in categories such as those for cell adhesion were down-regulated. The expression of one adiponectin receptor, AdipoR2, was also increased (1.8-fold, p<0.01), suggesting that naringenin chalcone could activate the adiponectin pathway through the elevation of both the ligand and its receptor. These results indicate that naringenin chalcone is a potent tomato flavonoid that improves adipocyte metabolic functions and exerts insulin-sensitizing effects by activating an adiponectin-related pathway.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Kikkoman Corporation, 399 Noda, Noda, Chiba 278-0037, Japan. thoriba@mail.kikkoman.co.jp
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horiba
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Ryuichiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047188:Chalcones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D047188:Chalcones; D047495:PPAR gamma; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C475421:adiponectin receptor 2, mouse; C027329:naringenin chalcone