Physiological function of Marine-Derived Tocopherol (MDT)

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26850132
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic life science
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Beppu Fumiaki 東京海洋大学, 学術研究院, 助教 (10707540)
• Research Collaborator: Gotoh Naohiro 東京海洋大学, 学術研究院, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 海洋性ビタミンE / MDT / 肥満 / 慢性炎症 / 脂肪細胞 / マクロファージ様細胞 / 脂肪細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Physiological function of Marine-Derived Tocopherol (MDT), characteristically occurred in marine organisms was investigated in the present study.
First, we found that MDT is distributed in whole body tissues although the accumulated amount is less than α-tocopherol. The highest amount of MDT was observed in adipose tissue. Second, MDT enhances the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes through increases in expression levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα which are key regulators of 3T3-L1 differentiation. Third, MDT reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines both in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and mouse macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. We further observed the different effects on the activity of 3T3-L1 and RAW264.7 cells among MDT and other vitamin E homologues, suggesting that MDT can regulate cell functions through unique pathways which are different from those of other homologues.

Free Research Field

脂質生化学