Effects of Berberine on Inflammatory Factors, Adipokines and Fatty Acid Metabolism in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes / 天津医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effects of berberine on inflammatory factors, adipokines and fatty acid metabo-lism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying berberine’s role of improving insulin re-sistance. Methods mRNA level of inflammatory molecules, adipokines, key enzymes and protein in fatty acid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) after cells were treated with different concentrations of berberine (0, 5, 10, 20, 40μmol/L) for 24 hours and with 10μmol/L berberine at different du-rations (0,4,8,24,48 h). These factors mainly included interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), leptin, adipo-nectin, visfatin, fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (AFABP). Results In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, transcription level of IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, FAS, AT-GL, AFABP reduced with addition of berberine dosage at 10~40μmol/L(P＜0.05)while visfatin mRNA level increased(P＜0.05)compared with the control group. No significant difference was found in expression of adiponectin(P>0.05). Tran-scription level of IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, AFABP, ATGL, FAS decreased with time after 10μmol/L berberine intervention (8-48 h) compared with the control group(P＜0.05). On the other hand, visfatin mRNA level increased(P＜0.05)compared with the control group. Adiponectin mRNA decreased only after cells were treated with berberine for 48 h(P＜0.05). No sig-nificant difference was found transcription of ACC between each groups treated with berberine(P > 0.05). Conclusion mRNA level of inflammatory factors, adipokines, key enzymes and protein in fatty acid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes can be affected by berberine and this effect depend on its dose and time . This might be the mechanisms underlying berber- ine to improve insulin resistance.