An experimental study of ethanol-induced regulation of adipogenesis in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

Aim:To observe the effects of ethanol on the differentiation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts into adipocytes, and the changes of expression of an adipogenic transcription factor, PPARg, in the cells treated with ethanol.Methods:NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and treated with ethanol that acted as adipocyte differentiation inducer. The cells in culture were stained with Sudan IV. The percentage of adipocytes was calculated by using computer image analysis software, Image Pro Plus 4.1. The expression of PPARγ mRNA was investigated by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). Results:The cells in culture were treated with increasing (0.03 mol/L, 0.06 mol/L, 0.09 mol/L, 0.15 mol/L, 0.21 mol/L) concentrations of ethanol for 14 days. Both percentages of adipocytes and the expressions of PPARγ mRNA in the cells treated with 0.06 mol/L, 0.09 mol/L, 0.15 mol/L, and 0.21 mol/L ethanol markedly increased compared with control group ( P 0.001). The differences in the percentage of adipocytes and the expression of PPARγ mRNA between 0.03 mol/L ethanol group and control group were not statistically significant ( P 0.05). Conclusion:Ethanol can directly induce the differentiation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts into a large number of adipocytes, which might be one of the factors contributing to the increase in volume of fat in the marrow following the ethanol induced osteonecrosis.