Carnitine Profiles During Differentiation and Effects of Carnitine on Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Cells

Abstract

These experiments were conducted to investigate carnitine profiles during differentiation and the effects of carnitine on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. To induce cell differentiation, undifferentiated 3T3-L1 cells were treated with dexamethasone, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, and d-biotin. Carnitine was also exogenously added to the cells to test its effect on cell differentiation. Triglyceride, total lipid, total protein, nonesterified carnitine, acid-soluble acylcarnitine, and acid-insoluble acylcarnitine were analyzed during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Total lipid, triglyceride, and total protein increased during the 3T3-L1 cell differentiation. However, nonesterified carnitine, acid-soluble acylcarnitine, and acid-insoluble acylcarnitine concentrations were lower in the differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, the exogenously added carnitine inhibited the increases in triglyceride and total lipid levels. These results suggest that carnitine may have an inhibitory role on the early stage of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation.