Adipogenic commitment induced by green tea polyphenols remodel adipocytes to a thermogenic phenotype

J Nutr Biochem. 2020 Sep:83:108429. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108429. Epub 2020 May 25.

Abstract

The potential contribution of green tea (GT) to the development of thermogenic/beige cells have been scarcely investigated. Here we investigated if the beneficial effects of GT in the induction of thermogenic/beige adipocytes results from an initial cell commitment during adipogenesis. Male C57Bl/6 mice (3 months) were divided into 3 groups: Control (chow diet), Obese (cafeteria diet), and Obese + GT. Mice received GT gavage (500 mg/kg of BW) over 12 weeks (5 days/week), after 4 weeks of diet, totalizing 16 weeks of experimentation. GT treatment increased energy expenditure (EE) in mice fed with cafeteria-diet leading to reduced BW gain, decreased adiposity, reduced inflammation, and improving insulin sensitivity. Those phenotypes were associated with enhanced expression of oxidative, thermogenic and beige genes. GT induced a futile cycle through de novo lipogenesis activating the thermogenic pathway. Induction of beige phenotype occurs autonomously in adipocytes and involves the PPARγ/FGF21/AMPK/UCP1 pathway. Our study identified that metabolic changes caused by GT may involve the temporal expression of PPARγ promoting the induction of thermogenic cells by reprogramming initial steps of adipocyte commitment.

Keywords: Adipose tissue; Catechins; Energy expenditure; Obesity; Polyphenols.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Adipocytes, Beige / cytology
  • Adipocytes, Beige / drug effects*
  • Adipocytes, Beige / metabolism
  • Adipogenesis / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Camellia sinensis / chemistry*
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lipogenesis
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • PPAR gamma / genetics
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism
  • Plant Preparations / administration & dosage*
  • Polyphenols / administration & dosage*
  • Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Thermogenesis / drug effects*

Substances

  • PPAR gamma
  • Plant Preparations
  • Polyphenols
  • fibroblast growth factor 21
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Protein Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases