Skimmed milk fermented by lactic acid bacteria inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes by downregulating PPARγ via TNF-α induction in vitro

The murine 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell line is widely used as an in vitro model for adipogenesis because of its similarities to primary fat cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the intracellular mechanisms by which skimmed milk fermented by two lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Enterococcus faecalis and Lactobacillus plantarum, inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Skimmed milk fermented by both LAB, but not non-fermented skimmed milk, significantly reduced the accumulation of lipid droplets and cellular triglycerides in a concentration-dependent manner. The mRNA and protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) were markedly inhibited in the presence of skimmed milk fermented by both LAB. Furthermore, the skimmed milk fermented by both LAB decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of PPAR gamma-targeting genes, lipoprotein lipase and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein. Under the same circumstances, resistin mRNA expression was downregulated, but not leptin mRNA expression. In contrast, skimmed milk fermented by both LAB significantly upregulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These results suggest that LAB-fermented skimmed milk inhibits adipogenesis by inhibiting a master transcription factor PPAR gamma via the upregulation of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in 3T3-L1 cells.

Automated summary

The study showed that skimmed milk fermented by certain lactic acid bacteria inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells by reducing lipid accumulation and triglyceride levels, as well as suppressing the expression of PPAR gamma. This inhibition was also associated with changes in the expression of specific genes related to adipocyte function.