十字花科蔬菜吲哚類衍生物I3C (Indole-3-carbinol)具有抗肥胖的作用,而I3C於胃酸環境易形成聚合物DIM (3,3'-Diindolylmethane),因此I3C之作用被認為是由於DIM所造成。然而DIM對於脂質生合成作用影響之研究相對較少。由於I3C及DIM皆為Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)之配體(Ligands)可與Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (Arnt)形成異雙聚體(Heterodimer)。此異雙聚體調控著缺氧和代謝外來毒性物質相關基因的表現。Arnt及AhR皆可調控肥胖及其過程,但目前研究卻發現兩者對於肥胖的影響有所差異,故本研究在探討介入不同濃度DIM對3T3-L1細胞之分化、細胞內脂肪堆積情形以及相關mRNA及蛋白質表現量影響。3T3-L1前脂肪細胞於分化過程介入十字花科蔬菜吲哚類衍生物DIM,會增加分化後脂肪細胞內三酸甘油酯含量,此影響可能與DIM上調PPAR-γ、C/EBP-α以及Arnt mRNA和下游相關蛋白質之表現量有關,且分化程度與DIM濃度、相關mRNA和蛋白質之表現量呈正相關性。
3,3‘-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is an acidic derivative from indole-3-carbinol (I3C), an indole derivative from cruciferous vegetable possessed anti-obesity activities. In vivo biological activities of I3C was thought to be associated with DIM, but the information of DIM on adipogenesis is limited. I3C and DIM are the ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) which forms a heterodimer with aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (Arnt). The heterodimer regulates the expressions of hypoxia and xenobiotic metabolism related genes. Both the Arnt and the AhR regulate obesity and its associated processes, but have opposite effects. This study then examined the effects of DIM on adipogenesis and the expressions of related genes and proteins by using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The cells were treated with different concentrations of DIM in the presence of differentiation reagents, adipogenesis was then determined. The results showed that DIM increased triglyceride content of differentiated adipocytes, and such effect was accompanied with the increased expressions of related mRNAs and proteins.