Lycopene attenuates body weight gain through induction of browning via regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Abstract Lycopene (LYC), one of the major carotenoids in tomatoes, has been preclinically and clinically used to obesity and type 2 diabetes management. However, whether its ability to counter body weight gain is mediated through induction of brown-like adipocyte phenotype in white adipose tissues (WAT) remains largely unknown. Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) serves the brown-like phenotype conversion and energy expenditure. Here, we show that LYC treatment promotes glucose consumption and improves insulin sensitivity, as well as fosters white adipocytes browning through upregulating mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ, uncoupling protein 1, PPARγ coactivator-1α and PR domain-containing 16 in the differentiated 3 T3-L1 adipocytes and primary adipocytes, as well as in the WAT of HFD exposed obese mice. In addition, LYC treatment attenuates body weight gain and improves serum lipid profiles as well as promotes BAT activation in obese mice. Moreover, PPARγ is induced with LYC intervention in mitochondria respiration and browning in white adipocytes and tissues. Taken together, these results suggest that LYC counteracts obesity and improves glucose and lipid metabolism through induction of the browning via up-regulation of PPARγ, which offers a new perspective of this compound to combat obesity and obesity-related disorders.