The cost of publication in Journal of Biomedical Science is borne by the National Science Council, Taiwan.
Research
Phosphatidylcholine induces apoptosis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes
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* Corresponding author: Dong-Seok Kim ds_kim@cau.ac.kr
- † Equal contributors
1 Departments of Biochemistry, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 221 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea
2 Departments of Pharmacology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 221 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea
3 Departments of Microbiology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 221 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea
Journal of Biomedical Science 2011, 18:91 doi:10.1186/1423-0127-18-91
Published: 7 December 2011Abstract
Background
Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) formulation is used for lipolytic injection, even though its mechanism of action is not well understood.
Methods
The viability of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was measured after treatment of PPC alone, its vehicle sodium deoxycholate (SD), and a PPC formulation. Western blot analysis was performed to examine PPC-induced signaling pathways.
Results
PPC, SD, and PPC formulation significantly decreased 3T3-L1 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. PPC alone was not cytotoxic to CCD-25Sk human fibroblasts at concentrations <1 mg/ml, whereas SD and PPC formulation were cytotoxic. Western blot analysis demonstrated that PPC alone led to the phosphorylation of the stress signaling proteins, such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and activated caspase-9, -8, -3 as well as cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, SD did not activate the apoptotic pathways. Instead, SD and PPC formulation induced cell membrane lysis, which may lead to necrosis of cells.
Conclusions
PPC results in apoptosis of 3T3-L1 cells.