title: Ethanolic extracts of Brazilian red propolis promote adipocyte differentiation through PPARγ activation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of ethanolic extracts of red propolis (EERP) on adipogenesis and evaluate the molecular basis for their anti-obesity effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested whether EERP alone could induce differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, regulate the expression of adipocyte-specific genes and reverse inhibitory effects of TNF-α on their differentiation. Next, we performed a luciferase reporter gene assay to test whether EERP could enhance transcriptional activities of PPARγ and adiponectin promoter activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EERP strongly induced differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes, and enhanced the PPARγ transcriptional activity and adiponectin promoter activity. In addition, EERP attenuated the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin production in mature adipocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that EERP enhance differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes in part by its potency of PPARγ activation and are capable of reversing inhibitory effects of TNF-α on adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin expression. These results suggest the value of EERP as a diet supplement for prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-associated disorders.
authors.affiliation: Gifu International Institute of Biotechnology, 1-1 Naka-Fudogaoka, Kakamigahara, Gifu 504-0838, Japan. aiio@giib.or.jp
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iio
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohguchi
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Hiroe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035782:Dalbergia / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011429:Propolis