Previous RNA-Seq analyses revealed that NAD(P)H steroid dehydrogenase-like (NSDHL) has a different expression during 3T3-L1 differentiation; however, its roles in adipogenesis are unknown. In the present study, using quantitative real-time PCR, we confirmed that NSDHL knockdown increased the proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, but attenuated the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, as evidenced by reduced lipid accumulation and down-regulation of PPARγ gene expression. Further analyses showed that the expression peak of NSDHL was at the early stage of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation and LXR-SREBP1 signaling pathway was downregulated in NSDHL-knockdown 3T3-L1 cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that NSDHL is a novel modulator of adipogenesis. Moreover, our data provide insight into the complex relationships between sterol sensing, LXR-SREBP1 signaling pathway, and PPARγ in 3T3-L1 cells.
Keywords: LXR-SREBP1 signaling pathway; NSDHL; adipogenesis; differentiation.