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The chlorophyll-derived metabolite phytanic acid induces white adipocyte differentiation

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Abstract

Phytanic acid is a derivative of the phytol side-chain of chlorophyll. It appears in humans following the ingestion of fat-containing foods and is present in human blood at a low micromolar concentration. It may activate retinoid X receptors (RXR) or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α in vitro. Phytanic acid induced the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in culture as assessed by accumulation of lipid droplets and induction of the aP2 mRNA marker. This effect was mimicked by a synthetic activator of RXR but not by a PPARα agonist or by palmitic acid. In human pre-adipocytes in primary culture, phytanic acid also induced adipocyte differentiation. These findings indicate that phytanic acid may act as a natural rexinoid in adipose cells and suggest a potential use in the treatment of human type 2 diabetes and obesity.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are given to B Spiegelman (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA) for the aP2 probe. This work was supported by grant PM98-0188 from Ministerio de Educación y Cultura (Spain) and SGR99-38 from Generalitat de Catalunya.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    A Schlüter, P Yubero, R Iglesias, M Giralt & F Villarroya

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  1. A Schlüter
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  2. P Yubero
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  3. R Iglesias
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  4. M Giralt
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  5. F Villarroya
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Correspondence to F Villarroya.

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Schlüter, A., Yubero, P., Iglesias, R. et al. The chlorophyll-derived metabolite phytanic acid induces white adipocyte differentiation. Int J Obes 26, 1277–1280 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802068

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802068

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