Flubendiamide Enhances Adipogenesis and Inhibits AMPKα in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Flubendiamide, a ryanoid class insecticide, is widely used in agriculture. Several insecticides have been reported to promote adipogenesis. However, the potential influence of flubendiamide on adipogenesis is largely unknown. The current study was therefore to determine the effects of flubendiamide on adipogenesis utilizing the 3T3-L1 adipocytes model. Flubendiamide treatment not only enhanced triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, but also increased the expression of cytosine-cytosine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding protein α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-γ, two important regulators of adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, the expression of the most important regulator of lipogenesis, acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, was also increased after flubendiamide treatment. Further study revealed that 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) or A769662, two Adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase α activators, subverted effects of flubendiamide on enhanced adipogenesis. Together, these results suggest that flubendiamide promotes adipogenesis via an AMPKα-mediated pathway.