title: Berberine increases adipose triglyceride lipase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through the AMPK pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is closely related to the metabolism of triacylglycerol (TG) in adipocytes. Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) are rate-limiting enzymes that control the hydrolysis of TG. Effects on ATGL and HSL to increase lipolysis may counteract obesity. Berberine (BBR) is a compound derived from the Chinese medicine plant Coptis chinensis. In the present study we show the effects of BBR on ATGL and HSL and explore the potential underlying mechanisms of these effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The TG content in cells was measured using a colorimetric assay. The expressions of HSL, ATGL and GPAT3 were evaluated by Western-blotting. The expression of ATGL was also evaluated by real-time PCR and radioimmunoassay. Compound C, an inhibitor of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), was used to explore the possible pathway that involved in the effect of BBR on ATGL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TG content of differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was significantly decreased by more than 10% after treated with BBR. In differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, BBR increased the expression of p-HSL and ATGL, and these effects were time-depended (p <0.01). The effect of BBR on ATGL expression could be abolished by Compound C which suggested that AMPK pathway was involved in the effects of BBR on p-HSL and ATGL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BBR could increase the expression of ATGL and therefore stimulate basal lipolysis in mature adipocytes through the associated mechanisms related to the AMPK pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Dongqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Dianhui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Xianghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264100, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Zhanqing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Yihong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Shihong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China. nfm85875772@126.com.
authors.forename: Fudun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008049:Lipase / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000187:drug effects; D000217:Acyltransferases
chemical_list: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D001599:Berberine; D008049:Lipase; D002787:Sterol Esterase; C494445:PNPLA2 protein, mouse; D000217:Acyltransferases
keywords: 3T3-L1 cell; ATGL; HSL; Lipolysis; Obesity