title: Rhein, an inhibitor of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis.
abstract: Rhein (RH), a compound purified from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, has been used to alleviate liver and kidney damage. It is found that RH inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes induced by differentiation medium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. It was revealed that RH downregulated the expression of adipogenesis-specific transcription factors PPARγ and C/EBPα, as well as their upstream regulator, C/EBPβ. Furthermore, the PPARγ target genes that are involved in adipocyte differentiation, such as CD36, aP2, acyl CoA oxidase, uncoupled protein 2, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase, were reduced after to RH. In addition, high-fat diet-induced weight gain and adiposity were reversed by RH in C57BL/6 mice. Consistent with the cells' results, RH downregulated the mRNA levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα, and their downstream target genes in C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis were inhibited by RH in cultured cells and in rodent models of obesity. The evidence implied that RH was a potential candidate for preventing metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rong-Ya
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Ya-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Xiao-Guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jin-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D047495:PPAR gamma; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase; C020491:rhein