EGCG Suppresses Adipogenesis and Promotes Browning of 3T3-L1 Cells by Inhibiting Notch1 Expression

Abstract

Background: With the changes in lifestyle and diet structure, the incidence of obesity has increased year by year, and obesity is one of the inducements of many chronic metabolic diseases. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is the most abundant component of tea polyphenols, has been used for many years to improve obesity and its complications. Though it has been reported that EGCG can improve obesity through many molecular mechanisms, EGCG may have many mechanisms yet to be explored. In this study, we explored other possible mechanisms through molecular docking and in vitro experiments. Methods: AutoDock Vina was selected for conducting the molecular docking analysis to elucidate the interaction between EGCG and Notch1, while molecular dynamics simulations were employed to validate this interaction. Then, the new regulation mechanism of EGCG on obesity was verified with in vitro experiments, including a Western blot experiment, immunofluorescence experiment, oil red O staining, and other experiments in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Results: The molecular docking results showed that EGCG could bind to Notch1 protein through hydrogen bonding. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that EGCG can significantly reduce the sizes of lipid droplets of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and promote UCP-1 expression by inhibiting the expression of Notch1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, thus promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. Conclusions: In this study, molecular docking and in vitro cell experiments were used to explore the possible mechanism of EGCG to improve obesity by inhibiting Notch1.