Adiponectin and Serine/Threonine Kinase Akt Modulation by Triiodothyronine and/or LY294002 in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Adipose tissue (AT), an endocrine organ that modulates several physiological functions by synthesizing and releasing adipokines such as adiponectin, is a metabolic target of triiodothyronine (T3). T3 and adiponectin play important roles in controlling normal metabolic functions such as stimulation of fatty acid oxidation and increase in thermogenesis. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is important for the differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes and can be activated by T3 for the transcription of specific genes, such as adiponectin. We examined the role of PI3K in adiponectin modulation by T3 action in murine adipocytes (3T3-L1). The 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 1000 nM T3 for 1 h in the presence or absence of 50 μM LY294002 (LY), a PI3K inhibitor. Then, we assessed the expression of adiponectin and the phosphorylated serine/threonine kinase Akt (pAkt), a PI3K signaling protein, in the adipocytes. Adiponectin and pAKT levels were higher in the T3-adipocyte cells, whereas in the LY group adiponectin was elevated and pAKT was decreased compared to the control (C). PI3K pathway inhibition for 1 h and posterior treatment with T3, in LY + T3, reduced the adiponectin level and increased pAKT levels compared to those in LY. T3 stimulated adiponectin levels by PI3K pathway activation and T3 can compensate alteration in the PI3K pathway, because with inhibition of the pathway it is able to maintain the basal levels of adiponectin and pAKT.