Abietic acid activates peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARγ) in RAW264.7 macrophages and 3T3‐L1 adipocytes to regulate gene expression involved in inflammation and lipid metabolism

Abstract

Abietic acid is one of the terpenoids, which are multifunctional natural compounds. It has been reported that abietic acid suppresses e¡ects on in£ammation. However, the mechanism underlying the anti-in£ammatory e¡ects remains unclear. The present work indicates that abietic acid suppresses the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-K K and cyclooxygenase 2, which are involved in in£ammation, in lipopolysaccharidestimulated macrophages. Moreover, this e¡ect resembles that of thiazolidinedione, a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-Q Q (PPARQ Q) ligand. Indeed, abietic acid activates PPARQ Q in luciferase reporter assays. The activity of abietic acid induces PPARQ Q target gene expression in RAW264.7 macrophages and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These data indicate that abietic acid is a PPARQ Q ligand and that its anti-in£ammatory e¡ect is partly due to the activation of PPARQ Q in stimulated macrophages. The present work suggests a novel possibility that abietic acid, a naturally occurring compound, can be used not only for anti-in£ammation but also for regulating lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis. ß

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