Vanillin induces adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells by activating extracellular signal regulated kinase 42/44

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 88; no. 15; pp. 675 - 680
• Main Authors: Haridas Nidhina, Pachakkil A., Poulose, Ninu, Gopalakrishnapillai, Anilkumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 11-04-2011
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 Cells; Adipocyte differentiation; adipocytes; Adipocytes - drug effects; Adipocytes - metabolism; Animals; Benzaldehydes - administration & dosage; Benzaldehydes - pharmacology; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extracellular signal regulated kinase 42/44; genes; glucose; Glucose - metabolism; Glucose Transporter Type 4 - metabolism; glucose transporters; insulin; Insulin - metabolism; insulin resistance; Mice; mitogen-activated protein kinase; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 - drug effects; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 - metabolism; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 - drug effects; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 - metabolism; phosphorylation; Phosphorylation - drug effects; PPAR gamma - metabolism; PPARγ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism; Vanillin; Western blotting; Extracellular signal regulated kinase 42/44; Vanillin; Adipocyte differentiation; PPARγ
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2011.02.001

To investigate the effect of vanillin, a dietary component, on adipocyte differentiation and the mechanism involved in the process using 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes.
The effect of vanillin on adipocyte differentiation was detected by Oil Red O analysis. The activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 42/44 (ERK 42/44), Akt, expression of the key regulator of adipocyte differentiation peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPARγ) and its target gene glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) were detected by western blotting. Glucose uptake assay was used to determine the insulin sensitivity of adipocytes differentiated by vanillin treatment. To confirm the role of ERK 42/44 and Akt, Oil Red O analysis was performed with cells differentiated in the presence or absence of ERK inhibitor U0126 or Akt kinase 1/2 inhibitor.
Vanillin induced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose dependent manner and also increased the expression levels of PPARγ and its target gene GLUT4. The adipocytes differentiated by vanillin exhibited insulin sensitivity as demonstrated by a significant increase in glucose uptake. Vanillin treatment activated the phosphorylation of ERK 42/44 during the initial phase of adipocyte differentiation but there was no significant change in the Akt phosphorylation status.
The data show that vanillin induces adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells by activating ERK42/44 and these adipocytes are insulin sensitive in nature.