(-)-Hydroxycitric acid attenuates endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated alterations in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by protecting mitochondria and downregulating inflammatory markers

Abstract

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is an emerging potential therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome due to its role in synthesis, secretion, and folding of proteins. It leads to an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which, along with mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced antioxidant defense, causes chronic cell injury. The present investigation aims to observe the alterations in adipocytes due to ER stress and the protective effect of hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a bioactive from Garcinia species, to develop the same as a nutraceutical. ER stress was induced in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes by treating them with tunicamycin (2μg/ml) for 18 h. Alterations in cell viability, innate antioxidant system (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase), mitochondria (membrane potential, biogenesis, and transition pore opening), and inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and IL-1β) during ER stress, and co-treatment with HCA were analyzed. Endocrine function of adipocytes was also assessed by measuring adiponectin and leptin secretion levels. HCA protected the cells from ER stress by improving the antioxidant status and mitochondrial functions. The results validate nutraceutical properties of the edible bioactive, commonly used for culinary purpose. A more detailed study on the mechanism of action of HCA is required for developing it as a therapeutic agent for metabolic syndrome.

Keywords::

• adipokines
• antioxidant enzymes
• heme oxygenase
• mitochondria
• 3T3-L1

Acknowledgement

We thank the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India, for financial assistance in the form of research fellowship for NVM. We are also thankful to the CSIR 12th 5-year plan project “NaPAHA -CSC-0130” for financial support. We thank the Director, CSIR-NIIST and Head, Agroprocessing and Natural Products Division, for providing necessary facilities.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.