4',6-dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-[beta]-D-glucopyranoside (wistin) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [gamma] (PPAR[gamma]) agonist that stimulates adipocyte differentiation

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [gamma] (PPAR[gamma]) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that directly activates the expression of adipocyte-specific genes, and is universally accepted as the master regulator for adipocyte differentiation. Using a PPAR[gamma] luciferase reporter assay system, we showed that 4',6-dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-[beta]-D-glucopyranoside (wistin) dose-dependently activates PPAR[gamma]. Treatment with wistin enhanced the marker of adipocyte differentiation, such as triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that wistin increased the expression of PPAR[gamma]2 messenger RNA. Moreover, the addition of wistin upregulated the expression of PPAR[gamma]-target genes, aP2 and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 cells. To our knowledge, wistin is the first isoflavonoid O-glycoside that exhibits PPAR[gamma] agonist activity.