Euphorbiasteroid, a component of Euphorbia lathyris L., inhibits adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase

• Published in: Cell biochemistry and function Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 220 - 225
• Main Authors: Park, Su-Jin, Park, Jae Ho, Han, Anna, Davaatseren, Munkhtugs, Kim, Hyun Jin, Kim, Myung-Sunny, Hur, Haeng Jeon, Sung, Mi-Jeong, Hwang, Jin-Taek, Yang, Hye Jeong, Kwon, Dae Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: 3T3-L1; 3T3-L1 Cells; Adipocytes - cytology; Adipocytes - drug effects; adipogenesis; Adipogenesis - drug effects; Adipogenesis - physiology; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases - genetics; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; AMPK; Animals; Blotting, Western; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Diterpenes - pharmacology; Enzyme Activation - drug effects; Euphorbia - chemistry; euphorbiasteroid; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Mice; obesity; Phenylacetates - pharmacology; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Signal Transduction - drug effects; AMPK; adipogenesis; euphorbiasteroid; 3T3-L1; obesity
• ISSN: 0263-6484; 1099-0844
• DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3107

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of euphorbiasteroid, a component of Euphorbia lathyris L., on adipogenesis of 3T3‐L1 pre‐adipocytes and its underlying mechanisms. Euphorbiasteroid decreased differentiation of 3T3‐L1 cells via reduction of intracellular triglyceride (TG) accumulation at concentrations of 25 and 50 μM. In addition, euphorbiasteroid altered the key regulator proteins of adipogenesis in the early stage of adipocyte differentiation by increasing the phosphorylation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase. Subsequently, levels of adipogenic proteins, including fatty acid synthase, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ and CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein α, were decreased by euphorbiasteroid treatment at the late stage of adipocyte differentiation. The anti‐adipogenic effect of euphorbiasteroid may be derived from inhibition of early stage of adipocyte differentiation. Taken together, euphorbiasteroid inhibits adipogenesis of 3T3‐L1 cells through activation of the AMPK pathway. Therefore, euphorbiasteroid and its source plant, E. lathyris L., could possibly be one of the fascinating anti‐obesity agent. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.