Molecular Mechanisms of Ascorbate Phosphate on Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes

Abstract

Adipocyte differentiation is primainly regulated by a cascade of transcription factors, including CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Ascorbic acid was reported to promote the adipocyte differentiation. However, its detail mechanism has not been clarified. In the present experiment, we investigated the molecular mechanism of ascorbate phosphate on differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with ascorbate phosphate enhanced the induction of some markers of adipocyte differentiation such as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and triglyceride accumulation. Gene expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα were increased by ascorbate phosphate treatment. Moreover, gene expression of C/EBPβ, expressing at early stage in adipogenesis, was also stimulated by ascorbate phosphate. These results suggest that ascorbic acid promotes adipocyte differentiation at least via affecting C/EBPβ expression level at the early phase of differentiation.