Horm Metab Res 2012; 44(11): 819-824
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321909
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ginsenoside-Rb1 Promotes Adipogenesis Through Regulation of PPARγ and MicroRNA-27b

L.-S. Chan*
1   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
,
P. Y.-K. Yue*
1   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
,
T.-W. Kok
1   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
,
M.-H. Keung
1   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
,
N.-K. Mak
1   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
,
R. N.-S. Wong
1   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 31 January 2012

accepted after second revision 10 July 2012

Publication Date:
14 August 2012 (online)

Abstract

Ginsenoside-Rb1 (Rb1), one of the bioactive components in ginseng extract, is recently reported to be able to promote adipogenesis and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression. Meanwhile, microRNA-27b (miR-27b) is also identified to regulate adipogenesis by targeting PPARγ2. In the present study, we attempted to link up the Rb1-promoted adipogenesis with PPARγ binding and miR-27b regulation. First, we demonstrated that GW9662, an antagonist of PPARγ, could block Rb1-induced 3T3-L1 differentiation with little toxicity towards cell proliferation. Then, expression levels for both of miR-27b and its primary transcript, pri-mir-27b, were found to decrease upon Rb1 treatment. Again, GW9662 could attenuate the inhibitory effect of Rb1 on both miR-27 and pri-mir-27b expression. Since Rb1 was demonstrated to have binding activity towards PPARγ, we thus speculate that Rb1 may act though PPARγ to downregulate mir-27b gene transcription and mature miR-27b activity, which in turn promotes PPARγ expression and adipogenesis. Enhancement on adipogenesis of adipose tissues is expected to prevent lipotoxicty in nonadipose tissues. Our data may give a better illustration to explain the antidiabetic effect of Rb1 and provide a hint on treatment of lipid related metabolic diseases in the future.

*

*  These authors contributed equally to this manuscript.