Genistein inhibits differentiation of primary human adipocytes

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 140 - 148
• Main Authors: Park, Hea Jin, Della-Fera, Mary Anne, Hausman, Dorothy B., Rayalam, Srujana, Ambati, Suresh, Baile, Clifton A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2009; New York, NY: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: adipocytes; Adipocytes - cytology; Adipocytes - drug effects; Adipocytes - enzymology; Adipogenesis; adipose tissue; Biological and medical sciences; cell culture; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; cell proliferation; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cryopreservation; DNA Probes; Estrogen receptor; fatty acid-binding proteins; fatty-acid synthase; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; gene expression regulation; genistein; Genistein - pharmacology; glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NAD); Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; GPDH activity; hormone receptors; hormone-sensitive lipase; Humans; Kinetics; leptin; lipogenesis; lipoprotein lipase; nutrition-genotype interaction; obesity; perilipin; peroxisomes; Phytoestrogen; plant estrogens; PPAR gamma - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA - drug effects; RNA - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - drug effects; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics; soy protein; soybean products; sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; weight control; weight loss; Phytoestrogen; Estrogen receptor; GPDH activity; Gene expression; Adipogenesis; Human; Isoflavone; Adipocyte; Genistein; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Differentiation; Hormonal receptor
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2008.01.006
• ISSN: 0955-2863

Genistein, a major soy isoflavone, has been reported to exhibit antiadipogenic and proapoptotic potential in vivo and in vitro. It is also a phytoestrogen which has high affinity to estrogen receptor β. In this study, we determined the effect of genistein on adipogenesis and estrogen receptor (ER) α and β expression during differentiation in primary human preadipocytes. Genistein inhibited lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 6.25 μM and higher, with 50 μM genistein inhibiting lipid accumulation almost completely. Low concentrations of genistein (3.25 μM) increased cell viability and higher concentrations (25 and 50 μM) decreased it by 16.48±1.35% ( P<.0001) and 50.68±1.34% ( P<.0001). Oil Red O staining was used to confirm the effects on lipid accumulation. The inhibition of lipid accumulation was associated with inhibition of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and down-regulation of expression of adipocyte-specific genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, adipocyte fatty acid binding protein, fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, perilipin, leptin, lipoprotein lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase. These effects of genistein during the differentiation period were associated with down-regulation of ERα and ERβ expression. This study adds to the elucidation of the molecular pathways involved in the inhibition of adipogenesis by phytoestrogens.