Nonivamide Enhances miRNA let-7d Expression and Decreases Adipogenesis PPAR[gamma] Expression in 3T3-L1 Cells

• Published in: Journal of cellular biochemistry Vol. 116; no. 6; p. 1153
• Main Authors: Rohm, Barbara, Holik, Ann-Katrin, Kretschy, Nicole, Somoza, Mark M, Ley, Jakob P, Widder, Sabine, Krammer, Gerhard E, Marko, Doris, Somoza, Veronika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2015
• ISSN: 0730-2312; 1097-4644
• DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25052

Red pepper and its major pungent principle, capsaicin (CAP), have been shown to be effective anti-obesity agents by reducing energy intake, enhancing energy metabolism, decreasing serum triacylglycerol content, and inhibiting adipogenesis via activation of the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1). However, the binding of CAP to the TRPV1 receptor is also responsible for its pungent sensation, strongly limiting its dietary intake. Here, the effects of a less pungent structural CAP-analog, nonivamide, on adipogenesis and underlying mechanisms in 3T3-L1 cells were studied. Nonivamide was found to reduce mean lipid accumulation, a marker of adipogenesis, to a similar extent as CAP, up to 10.4% (P<0.001). Blockage of the TRPV1 receptor with the specific inhibitor trans-tert-butylcyclohexanol revealed that the anti-adipogenic activity of nonivamide depends, as with CAP, on TRPV1 receptor activation. In addition, in cells treated with nonivamide during adipogenesis, protein levels of the pro-adipogenic transcription factor peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor [gamma] (PPAR[gamma]) decreased. Results from miRNA microarrays and digital droplet PCR analysis demonstrated an increase in the expression of the miRNA mmu-let-7d-5p, which has been associated with decreased PPAR[gamma] levels. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 1153-1163, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.