Effect of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a methylase, and its expression is positively correlated with obesity and insulin resistance. This study aims to detect the effects of NNMT on lipid accumulation, triglyceride content, adipocyte differentiation-related transcription factors, genes related to lipid metabolism, adipokine expression, and autophagy in adipocytes. Lentivirus vectors and eukaryotic expression plasmids were used to interfere with NNMT expression. The Oil Red O method was used to detect lipid accumulation, and colorimetry was used to detect triglyceride levels. The transcription of adipocyte differentiation-related transcription factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1), lipid metabolism-related genes (FABP4, FAS, FATP1 [SLC27A1], and LPL), adipokines (ADIPOQ and LEP) and autophagy-related genes (Beclin1, ATG7, ATG12, and ATG14) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the protein expressions of PPARγ, ADIPOQ, LC3I, LC3II, Beclin1, and P62 were detected by western blot analysis. Compared with the control group, the knockdown of NNMT expression reduced lipid accumulation and triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 cells. The transcription of PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP1, FABP4, FASN, FATP1, LPL, Beclin1, ATG7, ATG12, and ATG14 decreased, while ADIPOQ and LEP transcription increased. The expression of PPARγ, LC3I/II, and Beclin1 proteins also decreased, while ADIPOQ and P62 protein expression increased. The over-expression NNMT group showed experimental results opposite to those described above. Interference with the expression of NNMT affects lipid accumulation, triglyceride content after cell differentiation, adipocyte differentiation-related transcription factors, genes related to lipid metabolism, the expression of adipokines, and autophagy in adipocytes.