Effect of Taurine Chloramine on Differentiation of Human Preadipocytes into Adipocytes

We investigated whether taurine chloramine (TauCl), which is endogenously produced by immune cells such as macrophages that infiltrate adipose tissue, affects the differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes or modulates the expression of adipokines in adipocytes. To study the physiological effects of TauCl on human adipocyte differentiation and adipokine expression, preadipocytes were cultured under differentiation conditions for 14 days in the presence or the absence of TauCl. Differentiated adipocytes were also treated with TauCl in the presence or the absence of IL-1 beta (1 ng/ml) for 7 days. The culture supernatants were analyzed for adipokines such as adiponectin, leptin, IL-6, and IL-8. At concentrations of 400-600 mu M, TauCl significantly inhibited the differentiation of human preadipocytes into adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. It did not induce the dedifferentiation of adipocytes or inhibit fat accumulation in adipocytes. Expression of major transcription factors of adipogenesis and adipocyte marker genes was decreased after treatment with TauCl, in agreement with its inhibition of differentiation. These results suggest that TauCl may inhibit the differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes. Thus, TauCl or more stable derivatives of TauCl could potentially be a safe drug therapy for obesity-related diseases.