title: Vanillin induces adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells by activating extracellular signal regulated kinase 42/44.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of vanillin, a dietary component, on adipocyte differentiation and the mechanism involved in the process using 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of vanillin on adipocyte differentiation was detected by Oil Red O analysis. The activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 42/44 (ERK 42/44), Akt, expression of the key regulator of adipocyte differentiation peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPARγ) and its target gene glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) were detected by western blotting. Glucose uptake assay was used to determine the insulin sensitivity of adipocytes differentiated by vanillin treatment. To confirm the role of ERK 42/44 and Akt, Oil Red O analysis was performed with cells differentiated in the presence or absence of ERK inhibitor U0126 or Akt kinase 1/2 inhibitor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vanillin induced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose dependent manner and also increased the expression levels of PPARγ and its target gene GLUT4. The adipocytes differentiated by vanillin exhibited insulin sensitivity as demonstrated by a significant increase in glucose uptake. Vanillin treatment activated the phosphorylation of ERK 42/44 during the initial phase of adipocyte differentiation but there was no significant change in the Akt phosphorylation status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data show that vanillin induces adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells by activating ERK42/44 and these adipocytes are insulin sensitive in nature.
authors.affiliation: School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Clappana P.O, Kollam, Kerala, 690525, India.
authors.forename: Pachakkil A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Haridas Nidhina
authors.forename: Ninu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poulose
authors.forename: Anilkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnapillai
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001547:Benzaldehydes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001547:Benzaldehydes; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007328:Insulin; D047495:PPAR gamma; C495693:Slc2a4 protein, mouse; C100058:vanillin; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D005947:Glucose