title: Cryptotanshinone, a compound of Salvia miltiorrhiza inhibits pre-adipocytes differentiation by regulation of adipogenesis-related genes expression via STAT3 signaling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptotanshinone (CT), a major tanshinone found in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae), has various pharmacological effects such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Despite its well-documented benefits in a wide range of diseases, the effect of CT on adipocyte differentiation has not been well characterized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to determine the in vitro anti-adipogenic effect and underlying molecular mechanisms of CT using 3T3-L1 murine pre-adipocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the levels of intracellular triglyceride accumulation and mRNA and protein expression of key adipogenic transcription factors and their target genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with CT drastically reduced lipid accumulation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Molecular assays showed that CT effectively suppressed the expression of C/EBPβ, C/EBPα, and PPARγ and of their target adipocyte-specific genes aP2, adiponectin, and GLUT4 but activated the expression of anti-adipogenic genes such as GATA2, CHOP10, and TNF-α. CT treatment also inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 in the early phase of adipogenesis. A small-interfering-RNA-mediated knock-down of STAT3 potentiated the anti-adipogenic effect of CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, the results suggest that CT may be a good anti-adipogenic candidate because it regulates STAT3 during early adipogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Naimur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Miso
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea; Institute of Tissue Engineering, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea. Electronic address: yongsikkim@sch.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong-Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; C499919:Adipoq protein, mouse; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C495693:Slc2a4 protein, mouse; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C037886:cryptotanshinone
keywords: Adipogenesis; C/EBPβ; Cryptotanshinone; PPARγ; STAT3