Anti-obesity effect of carboxymethyl chitin by AMPK and aquaporin-7 pathways in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effect of carboxymethyl-chitin (CM-chitin), a water-soluble derivative of chitin, by measuring lipid accumulation and adipogenesis related factors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CM-chitin was synthesized by means of carboxymethylation reaction. Its inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation was investigated by measuring triglyceride content and glycerol release level. The gene and protein levels associated with adipogenesis were determined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Treatment with CM-chitin reduced triglyceride content and enhanced glycerol secretion in a dose-dependent manner. CM-chitin induced the down-regulation of adipogenesis related transcriptional factors and adipocyte specific gene promoters. Moreover, the specific mechanism by CM-chitin was confirmed by transcriptional activations of the phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and aquaporin-7. These results suggest that CM-chitin exerts anti-adipogenic effect on lipid accumulation through modulations of AMPK and aquaporin-7 signal pathways.