title: Phosphatidylcholine induces apoptosis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) formulation is used for lipolytic injection, even though its mechanism of action is not well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  The viability of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was measured after treatment of PPC alone, its vehicle sodium deoxycholate (SD), and a PPC formulation. Western blot analysis was performed to examine PPC-induced signaling pathways.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PPC, SD, and PPC formulation significantly decreased 3T3-L1 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. PPC alone was not cytotoxic to CCD-25Sk human fibroblasts at concentrations <1 mg/ml, whereas SD and PPC formulation were cytotoxic. Western blot analysis demonstrated that PPC alone led to the phosphorylation of the stress signaling proteins, such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and activated caspase-9, -8, -3 as well as cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, SD did not activate the apoptotic pathways. Instead, SD and PPC formulation induced cell membrane lysis, which may lead to necrosis of cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PPC results in apoptosis of 3T3-L1 cells.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hailan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jong-Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Su Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Kwang Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Nyoun Soo
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Yoosik
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Dong-Seok
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9