Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry
Online ISSN : 1347-6947
Print ISSN : 0916-8451
Food & Nutrition Science Regular Papers
Tea Catechin Suppresses Adipocyte Differentiation Accompanied by Down-regulation of PPARγ2 and C/EBPα in 3T3-L1 Cells
Takashi FURUYASHIKIHironobu NAGAYASUYukiko AOKIHiroaki BESSHOTakashi HASHIMOTOKazuki KANAZAWAHitoshi ASHIDA
Author information
JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2004 Volume 68 Issue 11 Pages 2353-2359

Details
Abstract

Obesity is a serious health problem, and its prevention is promoted through life style including diet and exercise. In this study, we investigated the suppressive effects of tea catechin on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes. (−)-Catechin 3-gallate (CG), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-epicatechin 3-gallate, and (−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate at 5 μM suppressed intracellular lipid accumulation. The suppressive effects of CG and EGC were stronger than the others, and CG and EGC also suppressed the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as a differentiation marker. These catechins inhibited the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ2 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) α, both of which act as key transcription factors at an early stage of differentiation, followed by the expression of glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 at a later stage. In addition, the catechins did not affect the phosphorylation status of the insulin signal pathway. Thus, catechin suppressed adipocyte differentiation accompanied by the down-regulation of PPARγ2, C/EBPα, and GLUT4. These results suggest that tea catechin prevents obesity through the suppression of adipocyte differentiation.

Content from these authors

This article cannot obtain the latest cited-by information.

© 2004 by Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
Previous article Next article
feedback
Top