Epidermal growth factor promotes adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cell in vitro

We have reported the importance of epidermal growth factor (EGF) for the induction of obesity in mice. In this study, we studied the effects of EGF on the induction of lipogenic enzymes and on the accumulation of triglyceride in a differentiated mouse adipocyte cell in vitro. Mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytic cells differentiated into mature adipocytes after the differentiation procedure by insulin, dexamethasone, and methyl-isobutyl-xanthine. 125I-EGF binding studies in the differentiated 3T3-L1 cells showed specific 125I-EGF bindings, and they expressed gene transcripts for EGF receptors by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction at all differentiative stages examined. Although EGF showed inhibitory effects on the triglyceride accumulation when administered to the preadipocytic 3T3-L1 cells, EGF enhanced the adipogenesis in the differentiated cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Administration of EGF at 0.1-1 nM from 4 days after the differentiation procedure for 10 days, significantly enhanced the acyl-Co A synthetase and lipoprotein lipase messenger RNA levels, both of which are rate-limiting enzymes to synthesize triglyceride in adipocytes. Moreover, 0.1-1 nM EGF increased the amounts of triglyceride accumulated in the cells, in proportion to the acyl-Co A synthetase and lipoprotein lipase messenger RNA levels. EGF rather failed the adipogenesis at 10 nM. Time course studies revealed that 1 nM EGF significantly increased the intracellular triglyceride levels from 4 through 16 days administration. These results suggest that EGF shows biphasic effects on adipocytes: although EGF inhibits preadipocytes differentiation into mature adipocytes, it promotes adipogenesis in the differentiated adipocytes.