| Summary: | Obesity is a main risk factor for several metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is also recognized as a low‐grade chronic inflammation. In the current study, the inhibitory effect of ramalin, isolated from Antarctic lichen, Ramalina terebrata , on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3‐L1 cells was examined. Ramalin attenuated the accumulation of lipid droplets stained with Oil red O in non‐toxic concentration. Western blot assay showed that ramalin remarkably inhibited the level of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPAR γ) and CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein β (c/EBP β) as well as CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein α (c/EBP alpha) in a concentration dependent manner. Real‐time PCR assay revealed that the expression of MDI‐induced adipogenesis related genes (GLUT4, aP2, leptin) was significantly suppressed by ramalin. Our data also showed that ramalin significantly decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK in a concentration‐dependent manner. Results from ELISA assay demonstrated that ramalin reduced the production of IL‐6 and TNF‐α. Taken together, ramalin can be a novel therapeutic candidate for controlling adipogenesis in preadipocytes.
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