Inhibitory effects of caffeine and its metabolites on intracellular lipid accumulation in murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Issue title: Integrated Functions of Diet in Anti-Aging and Cancer Prevention: Papers from the 4th International Niigata Symposium on Diet and Health, 20–30 November 2008, Niigata, Japan

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Nakabayashi, Hideo | Hashimoto, Takashi | Ashida, Hitoshi | Nishiumi, Shin | Kanazawa, Kazuki

Affiliations: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

Note: [] Address for correspondence: T. Hashimoto, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan. Tel./Fax: +81 78 803 6553; E-mail: takashi@kobe-u.ac.jp

Abstract: To understand the mechanisms of the anti-obesity effects of dietary caffeine, the effects of caffeine and its metabolites on adipocyte differentiation and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes were investigated. Caffeine did not inhibit the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes to mature adipocytes, but it did suppress the intracellular lipid accumulation after complete differentiation in a dose-dependent manner (0.125–1.0 mM). This effect was also observed in 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid- 3,7-dimethyluric acid- and 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyluracil-treated cells. Caffeine also inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with theophylline, paraxanthine, 1-methylxanthine (MX), 3-MX, or 7-MX also inhibited glucose uptake in differentiated adipocytes. These results suggest that the anti-obesity activity of dietary caffeine is due to the additive and/or synergistic inhibitory effects of caffeine and its metabolites on intracellular lipid accumulation and that caffeine does not affect adipocyte differentiation.

Keywords: Caffeine, caffeine metabolites, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, glucose uptake, adipocyte differentiation

DOI: 10.3233/BIO-2009-1083

Journal: BioFactors, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 293-302, 2008