title: Inhibitory Effect of Vitamin U (S-Methylmethionine Sulfonium Chloride) on Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Pre-adipocyte Cell Lines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  S-methylmethionine sulfonium chloride was originally called vitamin U because of its inhibition of ulceration in the digestive system. Vitamin U is ubiquitously expressed in the tissues of flowering plants, and while there have been reports on its hypolipidemic effect, its precise function remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of vitamin U in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  We cultured the pre-adipocyte cell line 3T3L1 to overconfluency and then added fat differentiation-inducing media (dexamethasone, IBMX [isobutylmethylxanthine], insulin, indomethacin) and different concentrations (10, 50, 70, 90, 100 mM) of vitamin U. Then, we evaluated changes in the levels of triglycerides (TGs), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), adipocyte-specific markers (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ [PPAR-γ], CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α [C/EBP-α], adipocyte differentiation and determination factor 1 [ADD-1], adipsin, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase) and apoptosis-related signals (Bcl-2, Bax).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a gradual decrease in the level of TGs, C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, adipsin, ADD-1 and GPDH activity with increasing concentrations of vitamin U. In contrast, we observed a significant increase in AMPK activity with increasing levels of vitamin U. The decrease in bcl-2 and increase in Bax observed with increasing concentrations of vitamin U in the media were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that vitamin U inhibits adipocyte differentiation via down-regulation of adipogenic factors and up-regulation of AMPK activity.
authors.affiliation: Arumdaun Nara Skin Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Na Young
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kui Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hye Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Kye Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yun Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Juhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Beom Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myeung Nam
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kim