Nutr Res Pract.  2009 Jun;3(2):84-88.

The inhibition of inflammatory molecule expression on 3T3-L1 adipocytes by berberine is not mediated by leptin signaling

• Choi BH
• Kim YH
• Ahn IS
• Ha JH
• Byun JM
• Do MS

Abstract

In our previous study, we have shown that berberine has both anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and the anti-adipogenic effect is due to the down-regulation of adipogenic enzymes and transcription factors. Here we focused more on anti-inflammatory effect of berberine using real time RT-PCR and found it changes expressions of adipokines. We hypothesized that anti-adipogenicity of berberine mediates anti-inflammtory effect and explored leptin as a candidate mediator of this signaling. We studied this hypothesis by western blot analysis, but our results showed that berberine has no effect on the phosphorylations of STAT-3 and ERK which have important roles on leptin signaling. These results led us to conclude that the anti-inflammatory effect of berberine is not mediated by the inhibition of leptin signal transduction. Moreover, we have found that berberine down-regulates NF-kappaB signaling, one of the inflammation-related signaling pathway, through western blot analysis. Taken together, the anti-inflammatory effect of berberine is not mediated by leptin, and berberine induces anti-inflammatory effect independent of leptin signaling.

Keyword

Berberine; inflammation; STAT-3; I-kappaB phosphorylation; 3T3-L1 adipocytes

MeSH Terms

Adipocytes
Adipokines
Berberine
Blotting, Western
Down-Regulation
Inflammation
Leptin
NF-kappa B
Phosphorylation
Signal Transduction
Transcription Factors
Adipokines
Berberine
Leptin
NF-kappa B
Transcription Factors

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 mRNA expressions of adipokines in BBR-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. At day 7 after inducing differentiation, adipocytes were cultured in 6-well plates with or without BBR for 18 hours. (a) Graph reporesents mRNA expressions of adipokines such as leptin, MCP-1, and adiponectin. Time course treatment berberine was conducted for 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours. Graphs represent mRNA expressions of (b) TNF-α and (c) leptin. (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001) Data are expressed relative to untreated control cells and represent means ± S.E. Experiments were conducted twice, each included triplication.

• 

  Fig. 2 Leptin signaling in BBR-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. At day 8 after inducing differentiation, adipocytes were cultured in 6-well plates with or without BBR for 4 hours. Graphs represent (a) phosphorylation of STAT-3 and (b) phosphorylation of ERK. Experiments were conducted twice, each included triplication.

• 

  Fig. 3 The change of NF-κB signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by BBR treatment. At day 8 after inducing differentiation, adipocytes were cultured in 6-well plates with or without BBR for 4 hours. Graphs represent phosphorylation of I-κB. Experiments were conducted twice, each included triplication.

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