Obesogenic effects of chlorpyrifos and its metabolites during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphorus pesticide widely and extensively used in agriculture in more than one hundred countries and found ubiquitously in the environment. The present study was aimed at providing a better understanding of the obesogenic potential of CPF and its metabolites, as well as to evaluate their effects on the adipocyte differentiation process. For it, during the initial differentiation process, 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes were exposed to different concentrations of CPF, CPF-oxon (CPO), or 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol (TCP), which did not affect cell survival. Results showed how CPF and, to a lesser extent, its metabolite TCP, had a positive metabolic influence over the adipogenic process by fostering an increase in the number of differentiated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and by enhancing the capacity to store lipid droplets. These processes seem to occur through the upregulation of the transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which are related to a significant higher expression of the fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) adipokine. Based on this finding, CPF exposure could be one of the many factors that contributes to the worldwide increase in the incidence of obesity. However, additional investigations are clearly needed. •The obesogenic activity of CPF and its metabolites, CPO and TCP, were determined.•CPF (and to a lesser extent, its metabolite TCP) promotes an increased ratio of hyperplastic and hypertrophic differentiated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.•CPF and TCP upregulate the expression of the transcription factors C/EBPα and PPARγ and of the FABP4 adipokine.•CPO apparently not have a significant metabolic influence over the adipogenic process.•CPF and its metabolites have no effects on the levels of phosphorylated AKT protein.