title: Monascus pilosus-fermented black soybean inhibits lipid accumulation in adipocytes and in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the anti-obesity effects and the mechanism of action of Monascus pilosus(M. pilosus)-fermented black soybean (MFBS) extracts (MFBSE) and MFBS powders (MFBSP) in adipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Black soybean was fermented with M. pilosus, and the main constituents in MFBS were analyzed by HPLC analysis. In vitro, MFBSE were examined for anti-adipogenic effects using Oil-Red O staining. In vivo, mice were fed a normal-fat diet (NFD) control, HFD control or HFD containing 1 g/kg MFBSP for 12 weeks, and then body weight gain and tissues weight measured. Real-time PCR and western blot assay were used to determine the mechanism of anti-adipogenic effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MFBSE inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without exerting cell cytotoxicity. MFBSP treatment in HFD-fed mice significantly decreased the body weight gain compared with the HFD control mice. MFBSE and MFBSP treatment resulted in significantly lower mRNA levels of adipogenesis-related genes, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPAR γ), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), and fatty acid synthase (FAS), in adipocytes and in white adipose tissue (WAT) of HFD-induced obese mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the anti-obesity effects of MFBS are elicited by regulating the expression of adipogenesis-related genes in adipocytes and WAT of HFD-induced obese mice.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Materials, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Sil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Materials, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Keun
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program of Biomodulation, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, College of Natural Science, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Ryung
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Materials, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, College of Natural Science, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Keun
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Materials, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea; Interdisciplinary Program of Biomodulation, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea. Electronic address: ymichigan@mju.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Materials, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea; Interdisciplinary Program of Biomodulation, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea; Division of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, College of Natural Science, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-Ro, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-728, Korea. Electronic address: jwsuh@mju.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Joo-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Suh
keywords: Adipocytes; Adipogenesis-related genes; Anti-obesity; Black soybean; High-fat diet-induced obese mice; Monascus pilosus