Tanshinone 1 prevents high fat diet-induced obesity through activation of brown adipocytes and induction of browning in white adipocytes

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2022-06, Vol.298, p.120488-120488, Article 120488
• Main Authors: Jung, Dae Young, Suh, Nanjoo, Jung, Myeong Ho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 Cells; Abietanes - pharmacology; Adipocytes; Adipocytes, Brown - metabolism; Adipocytes, White - metabolism; Adipose tissue; Adipose tissue (brown); Adipose Tissue, Brown - metabolism; Adipose Tissue, White - metabolism; AMP-activated protein kinase; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Animals; Body fat; Brown adipocytes; Browning; Diet; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; DNA, Mitochondrial - metabolism; Fatty acid oxidation; Fatty acids; Gene expression; Genes; High fat diet; In vitro methods and tests; In vivo methods and tests; Kinases; Lipolysis; Mice; Mice, Obese; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial biogenesis; Mitochondrial DNA; Obesity; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - etiology; Obesity - prevention & control; Oxidation; Tanshinone 1; Tanshinones; Therapeutic targets; Thermogenesis
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120488

Increasing brown adipocytes activity and inducting browning of white adipocytes are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Tanshinone 1 (Tan 1), a major compound from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, on the activation of brown adipocytes and browning of white adipocytes in vivo and in vitro. Expression of genes associated with brown adipocyte function including thermogenesis, mitochondria biogenesis and fatty acid oxidation was examined in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) of high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice administrated with Tan 1 or in immortalized brown adipocytes (iBAs) and 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with Tan 1. Mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) content, lipolysis and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were further assessed in Tan 1 treated-iBAs and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The administration of Tan 1 protected against HFD-induced obesity in mice, which was associated with enhanced expression of brown adipocyte function-related genes in BAT and WAT. Tan 1 treatment also upregulated brown adipocyte function-related genes in iBA and induced beige adipocytes genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, resulting in increased mtDNA content and lipolysis. Tan 1 activated AMPK in BAT and WAT of HFD-fed obese mice as well as in iBAs and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Inhibition of AMPK by compound C prevented Tan 1-induced expression of beige adipocytes genes. These results indicate that Tan 1 activates brown adipocytes and induces browning of white adipocytes, which may contribute to anti-obesity activity of Tan 1. [Display omitted]