title: α-Naphthoflavone inhibits 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes differentiation via modulating p38MAPK signaling.
abstract: α-Naphthoflavone (α-NF) is a synthetic flavonone derivative and is well known as a potent inhibitor of aromatase in a variety of systems. However, its role in lipid metabolism remains far from understood. The aim of current study was to investigate the effects of α-NF on 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes differentiation and the mechanism through which it acts. Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with α-NF in conjunction with a hormone cocktail resulted in α-NF mediated suppression of adipocyte differentiation in a dose dependent manner. At the molecular level, our findings demonstrated that α-NF inhibited the mid and late phase, but not the early phase of adipogenic markers expression during 3T3-L1 adipogenesis. The phosphorylation of p38 was activated upon adipogenic stimulation, yet was substantially suppressed by α-NF treatment. α-NF also synergistically inhibited expression of the adipogenic marker peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression together with p38 selective inhibitor, SB203580. Our study demonstrated for the first time that α-NF is capable of suppressing 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and that this effect likely occurs through repression of the p38MAPK signaling pathway.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Wuhan University Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.
authors: Qiqiang
authors: Q
authors: He
authors: Caixuan
authors: C
authors: Huang
authors: Lihua
authors: L
authors: Zhao
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Feng
authors: Qun
authors: Q
authors: Shi
authors: Dengshun
authors: D
authors: Wang
authors: Suqing
authors: S
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001571:Benzoflavones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001571:Benzoflavones; D047495:PPAR gamma; C011512:alpha-naphthoflavone; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: PPARγ; adipogenesis; p38MAPK; α-Naphthoflavone