Visfatin is an adipokine highly expressed in visceral AT (adipose tissue) of humans and rodents, the production of which seems to be dysregulated in excessive fat accumulation and conditions of insulin resistance. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), an n−3 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid), has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects in obesity and insulin resistance conditions, which have been further linked to its reported ability to modulate adipokine production by adipocytes. TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine whose production is increased in obesity and is involved in the development of insulin resistance. Control of adipokine production by some insulin-sensitizing compounds has been associated with the stimulation of AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase). The aim of the present study was to examine in vitro the effects of EPA on visfatin production and the potential involvement of AMPK both in the absence or presence of TNF-α. Treatment with the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α (1 ng/ml) did not modify visfatin gene expression and protein secretion in primary cultured rat adipocytes. However, treatment of these primary adipocytes with EPA (200 μmol/l) for 24 h significantly increased visfatin secretion (P<0.001) and mRNA gene expression (P<0.05). Moreover, the stimulatory effect of EPA on visfatin secretion was prevented by treatment with the AMPK inhibitor Compound C, but not with the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitor LY294002. Similar results were observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, EPA strongly stimulated AMPK phosphorylation alone or in combination with TNF-α in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and pre-adipocytes. The results of the present study suggest that the stimulatory action of EPA on visfatin production involves AMPK activation in adipocytes.
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September 2009
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Research Article|
August 14 2009
Eicosapentaenoic acid stimulates AMP-activated protein kinase and increases visfatin secretion in cultured murine adipocytes
Silvia Lorente-Cebrián;
Silvia Lorente-Cebrián
*Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Matilde Bustos;
Matilde Bustos
†Division of Hepatology and Gene Therapy, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Amelia Marti;
Amelia Marti
*Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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J. Alfredo Martinez;
J. Alfredo Martinez
*Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Maria J. MORENO-ALIAGA
*Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
Correspondence: Dr Maria J. Moreno-Aliaga (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 12 2009
Revision Received:
March 13 2009
Accepted:
March 18 2009
Accepted Manuscript online:
March 18 2009
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Biochemical Society
2009
Clin Sci (Lond) (2009) 117 (6): 243–249.
Article history
Received:
January 12 2009
Revision Received:
March 13 2009
Accepted:
March 18 2009
Accepted Manuscript online:
March 18 2009
Citation
Silvia Lorente-Cebrián, Matilde Bustos, Amelia Marti, J. Alfredo Martinez, Maria J. MORENO-ALIAGA; Eicosapentaenoic acid stimulates AMP-activated protein kinase and increases visfatin secretion in cultured murine adipocytes. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 September 2009; 117 (6): 243–249. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20090020
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