Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation
Published on: April 3, 2017
Nuciferine Prevents Obesity by Inhibiting Macrophage Inflammation Involving LGALS3, CTSB, and RBP4 Genes Based on an
Yuchen Jiang1, Hanyuan Xu1, Linjie Wang1
1Key Laboratory of Endocrinology of National Health Commission, Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Introduction:
Nuciferine, the key aporphine alkaloid compound extracted from lotus leaf, has demonstrated remarkable effects in the prevention of obesity. Our current study sought to elucidate the exact mechanisms of the protective roles of nuciferine on obesity and associated metabolic abnormalities.
Methods:
Male C57BL/6J mice were given a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 0.10% nuciferine for 12 weeks. Body weight and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) mass were collected. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and insulin tolerance test (IPITT) were conducted. A multidisciplinary approach, including transcriptomic analysis and network pharmacology, was employed to identify novel targets and signaling pathways of nuciferine in obesity prevention, which were further confirmed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), molecular docking, and in vitro cell experiments performed in RAW 264.7 macrophages.
Results:
Nuciferine dramatically reduced the weight gain and eWAT mass and ameliorated glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation in adipose tissue of HFD-fed mice. In fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, nuciferine prevented palmitic acid (PA)-induced intracellular lipid accumulation, as evidenced by Oil Red O staining and triglyceride (TG) determination. Integration of transcriptomic sequencing in eWAT and network pharmacology identified 15 target genes, including LGALS3, CTSB, and RBP4, and 5 signaling pathways, including cAMP and Rap1 signaling pathways, which were primarily associated with inflammation. Further studies confirmed that nuciferine decreased LGALS3, CTSB, and RBP4 mRNA expression in eWAT of HFD-fed mice. Additionally, nuciferine inhibited mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, along with LGALS3, CTSB, and RBP4 in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Molecular docking showed that nuciferine had strong binding ability to LGALS3, CTSB, and RBP4.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that nuciferine may reduce adipose tissue inflammation by inhibiting mRNA levels of macrophage inflammation-associated genes LGALS3, CTSB, and RBP4, thereby protecting against obesity and associated metabolic inflammation.
Insights
Nuciferine, from lotus leaf, combats obesity by reducing adipose tissue inflammation and improving metabolic health. This study identifies key genes and pathways involved in nuciferine
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Molecular Biology
- Metabolic Disease Research
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Nuciferine, an alkaloid from lotus leaf, shows potential in preventing obesity.
- Obesity is linked to metabolic abnormalities requiring further mechanistic investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the precise mechanisms by which nuciferine prevents obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
- To identify novel molecular targets and signaling pathways influenced by nuciferine.
Main Methods:
- Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) with nuciferine for 12 weeks.
- Evaluated body weight, adipose tissue mass, glucose/insulin tolerance, and inflammation.
- Employed transcriptomic analysis, network pharmacology, RT-qPCR, molecular docking, and in vitro adipocyte/macrophage models.
Main Results:
- Nuciferine reduced weight gain, adipose tissue mass, and improved metabolic parameters in HFD-fed mice.
- Nuciferine inhibited lipid accumulation in adipocytes and reduced pro-inflammatory markers.
- Identified LGALS3, CTSB, and RBP4 as key target genes, with nuciferine decreasing their expression and showing binding affinity.
Conclusions:
- Nuciferine mitigates adipose tissue inflammation by downregulating macrophage inflammation-associated genes (LGALS3, CTSB, RBP4).
- These mechanisms contribute to nuciferine's protective effects against obesity and metabolic inflammation.
Related Concept Videos
01:38Inflammation
00:46Feedback Inhibition
01:24Obesity
02:26Protein Networks
These interactions can be represented through maps depicting protein-protein interaction networks, represented as nodes and edges. Nodes are circles that are representative of a protein,...
02:59Cancer Prevention
Some...
02:07Organization of Genes