The Inhibitory Effect of L. plantarum Q180 on Adipocyte Differentiation in 3T3-L1 and Reduction of Adipocyte Size in Mice Fed High-fat Diet

In this study, we examined the inhibitory effect of L. plantarum Q180 on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 and reduction of adipocyte size in mice fed high-fat diet. L. plantarum Q180 inhibited the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells (18.47 ± 0.32%) at a concentration of 400 μg/mL (108 CFU/g). As a result of western blot analysis, the expression of C/EBPα and PPARγ in 3T3-L1 adipocyte treated with 400 μg/mL of L. plantarum Q180 decreased 35.16% and 40.07%, respectively, compared with the control. To examine the effects, mice were fed three different diets as follows: ND (n=6) was fed ND and orally administered saline solution; HFD (n=6), HFD and orally administered saline solution; and HFD+Q180 (n=6), HFD and orally administered L. plantarum Q180. After six weeks, the rate of increase of body weight was 13.7% lower in the HFD+Q180 group compared to the HFD group. In addition, the epididymal fat weights of the HFD+Q180 group were lower than that of the HFD group. The change of adipocyte size was measured in diet-induced obese mice. Consequently, the number of large-size adipose tissue was less distributed in the ND and HFD+Q180 groups than in the HFD group. L. plantarum Q180 has an effect on the inhibition of 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, fat absorption and reduction of adipocyte size. L. plantarum Q180 could be applied to functional food products that help improve obesity.