AICAR inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3L1 and restores metabolic alterations in diet-induced obesity mice model
Background:
Obesity is one of the principal causative factors involved in the development of metabolic syndrome. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy sensor that regulates cellular metabolism. The role of AMP-activated protein kinase in adipocyte differentiation is not completely understood, therefore, we examined the effect of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-b-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), a pharmacological activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3L1 cells and in a mouse Diet induced obesity (DIO) model.
Methods:
To examine the effect of AICAR on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3L1 cells and in a mouse Diet induced obesity (DIO) model, 3T3L1 cells were differentiatied in the presence or absence of different concentration of AICAR and neutral lipid content and expression of various adipocyte-specific transcription factors were examined. In vivo study, treated and untreated mice with AICAR (0.1-0.5mg/g body weight) were fed high-fat diet (60% kcal% fat) to induce DIO and several parameters were studied.
Results:
AICAR blocked adipogenic conversion in 3T3L1 cells along with significant decrease in the neutral lipid content by downregulating several adipocyte-specific transcription factors including peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor g (PPARg), C/EBPa and ADD1/SREBP1, which are critical for adipogenesis in vitro. Moreover, intraperitoneal administration of AICAR (0.5mg g/body weight) to mice fed with high-fat diet (60% kcal% fat) to induce DIO, significantly blocked the body weight gain and total content of epididymal fat in these mice over a period of 6 weeks. AICAR treatment also restored normal adipokine levels and resulted in significant improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The reduction in adipose tissue content in AICAR treated DIO mice was due to reduction in lipid accumulation in the pre-existing adipocytes. However, no change was observed in the expression of PPARg, C/EBPa and ADD1/SREBP1 transcription factors in vivo though PGC1a expression was significantly induced.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that AICAR inhibits adipocyte differentiation via downregulation of expression of adipogenic factors in vitro and reduces adipose tissue content in DIO mice by activating expression of PGC1a without inhibiting adipocyte-specific transcription factors in DIO mice. (more…)

The Main Benefits of Endermologie
Cellulite. Those trapped pockets of fat near the surface of the skin that make your skin look bumpy and puckered. Unappealing to most, it appears in problematic areas such as the upper thighs, buttocks, and stomach where many fibrous bands exist to trap fat. Since these areas are slow to react to the benefits of exercise, once cellulite appears, it is often difficult and impossible for those affected to eliminate it. Unfortunately, it is a common occurrence in women even if they do exercise on a regular basis. (more…)

How To Select The Right Drug Addiction Treatment
One of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime is selecting a drug addiction treatment for you or one of your love ones. Only few of us know about the most important drug addiction treatment center for you as they are not all the same, you want quality and trust. You will find that each drug addiction treatment program or center will have its own option, cost, effectiveness of them.
Now, before you make important decisions you should ask the right questions when you call any drug addiction treatment center and you should get clear answers. So I had prepare this to put you in the right frame of mind on how to go about this. (more…)

Emergency Weight Loss — Losing Weight Quickly and Safely
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Time To Head For The Great Outdoors
I’ve just learnt July is Parks and Recreation Month. It made be realize that I’ve got into the habit of doing my aerobic exercise on the treadmill even when the weather is nice. I’m going to make a real effort to go power walking or hiking in the fresh air more.

Getting exercise outdoors in […] (more…)

Fat Land Makes A Shocking Read
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The books charts the changes to food consumption. From the introduction of extremely unhealthy fats such […] (more…)

Low carbohydrate diets improve atherogenic dyslipidemia even in the absence of weight loss
Because of its effect on insulin, carbohydrate restriction is one of the obvious dietary choices for weight reduction and diabetes. Such interventions generally lead to higher levels of dietary fat than official recommendations and have long been criticized because of potential effects on cardiovascular risk although many literature reports have shown that they are actually protective even in the absence of weight loss. A recent report of Krauss et al. (AJCN, 2006) separates the effects of weight loss and carbohydrate restriction. They clearly confirm that carbohydrate restriction leads to an improvement in atherogenic lipid states in the absence of weight loss or in the presence of higher saturated fat. In distinction, low fat diets seem to require weight loss for effective improvement in atherogenic dyslipidemia. (more…)