4',6-dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O- beta -D-glucopyr anoside (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-gluco pyranoside (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.