Short‐Chain Fatty Acids Enhance the Lipid Accumulation of 3T3‐L1 Cells by Modulating the Expression of Enzymes of Fatty Acid Metabolism

• Published in: Lipids Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 77 - 84
• Main Authors: Yu, Haining, Li, Ran, Huang, Haiyong, Yao, Ru, Shen, Shengrong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2018
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 Cells; 3T3‐L1 cell; acetic acid; Acetic Acid - chemistry; Acetic Acid - metabolism; acid treatment; adipocytes; Adipocytes - metabolism; Adipogenesis - genetics; Animals; butyric acid; Butyric Acid - chemistry; Butyric Acid - metabolism; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Fatty acid metabolism; Fatty Acid Synthases - genetics; Fatty Acid Synthases - metabolism; fatty acid transport proteins; Fatty Acid Transport Proteins - genetics; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins - genetics; Fatty Acids, Volatile - genetics; Fatty Acids, Volatile - metabolism; fatty-acid synthase; fermentation; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gut microbiota; intestinal microorganisms; Lipid accumulation; lipid content; Lipid Metabolism - genetics; lipoprotein lipase; Lipoprotein Lipase - genetics; Mice; Propionates - chemistry; Propionates - metabolism; propionic acid; Short chain fatty acids; toxicity testing; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - metabolism; viability; Western blotting; Gut microbiota; Lipid accumulation; 3T3-L1 cell; Fatty acid metabolism; Short chain fatty acids
• ISSN: 0024-4201; 1558-9307; 1558-9307
• DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12005

Short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid are produced by fermentation by gut microbiota. In this paper, we investigate the effects of SCFA on 3T3‐L1 cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The cells were treated with acetic acid, propionic acid, or butyric acid when cells were induced to differentiate into adipocytes. MTT assay was employed to detect the viability of 3T3‐L1 cells. Oil Red O staining was used to visualize the lipid content in 3T3‐L1 cells. A triglyceride assay kit was used to detect the triacylglycerol content in 3T3‐L1 cells. qRT‐PCR and Western blot were used to evaluate the expression of metabolic enzymes. MTT results showed that safe concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid were less than 6.4, 3.2, and 0.8 mM, respectively. Oil Red O staining and triacylglycerols detection results showed that treatment with acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid accelerated the 3T3‐L1 adipocyte differentiation. qRT‐PCR and Western blot results showed that the expressions of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), adipocyte fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), fatty acid transporter protein 4 (FATP4), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were significantly increased by acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid treatment during adipose differentiation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, SCFA promoted lipid accumulation by modulating the expression of enzymes of fatty acid metabolism.