Sulfated galactan from Acanthophora muscoides inhibits adipogenesis via regulating adipogenic transcription factors and AMPK in 3T3-L1 cells.

Abstract

Obesity is a global public health issue, closely linked to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Pharmacological interventions for weight loss are one option for treating obesity; however, these drugs often come with side effects or limited efficacy, highlighting the need for new therapies. Marine algae offer a promising source of biologically active compounds for human health, including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity properties. Sulfated galactan isolated from the red marine algae Acanthophora muscoides (SGAM) has demonstrated diverse biological activities including anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and in vitro studies. However, its potential impact on adipogenesis remains unexplored. This study evaluated the effect of SGAM on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells using Oil Red O staining and analyzed the protein expression of key transcription factors associated with adipogenesis. SGAM (25-100 μg/mL) was found to reduce intracellular lipid accumulation in adipocytes without compromising cell viability. Furthermore, our findings suggest that SGAM significantly inhibits adipocyte differentiation by downregulating the expression of key adipogenesis-related transcription factors, including C/EBPβ, C/EBPδ, C/EBPα, and PPARγ. Additionally, SGAM reduced the protein expression of SREBP-1 and promoted the activation of AMPK. In conclusion, SGAM inhibits adipogenesis by negatively modulating the expression of the main adipogenic transcription factors and activating AMPK.