Sulforaphane attenuates obesity by inhibiting adipogenesis and activating the AMPK pathway in obese mice.
Obesity is associated with metabolic disorders. Sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate, inhibits adipogenesis and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we investigated whether sulforaphane could prevent high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in C57BL/6N mice. Mice were fed a normal diet (ND), HFD or HFD plus 0.1% sulforaphane (SFN) for 6 weeks. Food efficiency ratios and body weight were lower in HFD-SFN-fed mice than in HFD-fed mice. SFN attenuated HFD-induced visceral adiposity, adipocyte hypertrophy and fat accumulation in the liver. Serum total cholesterol and leptin, and liver triglyceride levels were lower in HFD-SFN-fed mice than in HFD-fed mice. SFN decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and leptin in the adipose tissue of HFD-SFN mice and increased adiponectin expression. Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the adipose tissue of HFD-SFN-fed mice was elevated, and HMG-CoA reductase expression was decreased compared with HFD-fed mice. Thus, these results suggest that SFN may induce antiobesity activity by inhibiting adipogenesis through down-regulation of PPARγ and C/EBPα and by suppressing lipogenesis through activation of the AMPK pathway.
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Kyeong-Mi
KM
Choi
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Youn-Sun
YS
Lee
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Wonkyun
W
Kim
Department of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
Seung Jung
SJ
Kim
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Kyong-Oh
KO
Shin
Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Yeon
JY
Yu
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Mi Kyeong
MK
Lee
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Yong-Moon
YM
Lee
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Jin Tae
JT
Hong
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Yeo-Pyo
YP
Yun
College of Pharmacy and Center for Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yoohs@chungbuk.ac.kr.
Hwan-Soo
HS
Yoo
D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013454:Sulfoxides
D017879:Isothiocyanates; D013454:Sulfoxides; D002784:Cholesterol; D000263:Adenylate Kinase; C016766:sulforaphane
AMPK; Adipogenesis; Leptin; Lipogenesis; Obesity; Sulforaphane