title: Indole-3-carbinol prevents diet-induced obesity through modulation of multiple genes related to adipogenesis, thermogenesis or inflammation in the visceral adipose tissue of mice.
abstract: Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a compound found in high concentrations in Brassica family vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, and is regarded as a promising chemopreventive agent against various cancers. This study assesses the protective effect of I3C against diet-induced obesity in mice. Mice were randomly grouped to receive either a normal diet, high-fat (40% energy as fat) diet (HFD) or I3C-supplemented diet (1 g/kg diet) for 10 weeks. I3C supplementation significantly ameliorated HFD-induced increases in body weight gain, visceral fat pad weights and plasma lipid levels. The visceral adipose tissue mRNA levels of uncoupling proteins 1 and 3, crucial factors of thermogenesis, and their regulators such as sirtuin 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and PPARγ coactivator 1α, which were down-regulated by HFD, were normalized by supplementation with I3C. In contrast, I3C supplementation significantly decreased expression levels of a key adipogenic transcription factor, PPARγ2, and its target genes, such as leptin and adipocyte protein 2, in the visceral adipose tissue of mice maintained on the HFD. Furthermore, HFD-induced up-regulation in mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interferon β and interleukin 6) was significantly ameliorated by I3C. These findings suggest that I3C has a potential benefit in preventing obesity and metabolic disorders, and the action for I3C in vivo may involve multiple mechanisms including decreased adipogenesis and inflammation, along with activated thermogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youngshim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yunjung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ki Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Taesun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D007211:Indoles; D008055:Lipids; C016517:indole-3-carbinol