4,4'-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) promote adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell culture.
4,4'-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide, was extensively used in the 1940s and 1950s. DDT is mainly metabolically converted into 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). Even though most countries banned DDT in the 1970s, due to the highly lipophilic nature and very stable characteristics, DDT and its metabolites are present ubiquitously in the environment, including food. Recently, there are publications on relationships between exposure to insecticides, including DDT and DDE, and weight gain and altered glucose homeostasis. However, there are limited reports regarding DDT or DDE and adipogenesis, thus we investigated effects of DDT and DDE on adipogenesis using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Treatment of DDT or DDE resulted in increased lipid accumulation accompanied by increased expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), adipose triglyceride lipase, and leptin. Moreover, treatment of DDT or DDE increased protein levels of C/EBPα, PPARγ, AMP-activated protein kinase-α (AMPKα), and ACC, while significant decrease of phosphorylated forms of AMPKα and ACC were observed. These finding suggest that increased lipid accumulation caused by DDT and DDE may mediate AMPKα pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Division of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
Jonggun
J
Kim
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 102 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
Quancai
Q
Sun
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 102 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
Yiren
Y
Yue
Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Sciences Program, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL 62026, United States.
Kyong Sup
KS
Yoon
Division of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
Kwang-Youn
KY
Whang
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 637 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
J
J
Marshall Clark
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 102 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, United States. Electronic address: ypark@foodsci.umass.edu.
Yeonhwa
Y
Park
D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D003634:DDT / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D051379:Mice; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis
D014280:Triglycerides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D003634:DDT
3T3-L1; Adipocyte differentiation; Adipogenesis; DDE; DDT; Lipogenesis