Objective  To investigate the effect of rutin on beige adipogenesis development.

  Methods  Preadipocytes (3T3-L1) were treated with rutin at different concentrations. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) was used to assess the effect of different concentrations of rutin on cell viability. Oil red O staining was used to observe lipid droplet size. The expressions of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPAR-γ), human adipocyte lipid-binding protein (aP2) and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) were detected with Western blot. The mRNA expressions of the UCP1, PR domain-containing the 16-like protein (PRDM16) and deiodinase type 2 (Dio2) genes were determined using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Changes in mitochondria were detected by cellular immunofluorescence.

  Results  No significant variation in cell viability was observed but lipid droplet formation was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in the 3T3-L1 cells treated with rutin at the dosages 0 – 250 μmol/L. Compared with those in the negative control cells, decreased protein expressions of aP2 (0.87 ± 0.03, 0.64 ± 0.01, and 0.64 ± 0.05 vs. 1.12 ± 0.03) and PPAR-γ (0.73 ± 0.02, 0.46 ± 0.02, and 0.43 ± 0.05 vs. 0.87 ± 0.02) but increased UCP1 protein (0.58 ± 0.03, 0.42 ± 0.02, and 0.34 ± 0.01) were detected in the preadipocytes treated with rutin at dosages of 50, 100, and 250 μmol/L. Up-regulated expressions of UCP1 (7.02 ± 0.24), PRDM16 (2.09 ± 0.06), and Dio2 (10.40 ± 0.93) genes were detected in the 3T3-L1 cells treated with rutin of 50 μmol/L in comparison with that of control cells. Cellular immunofluorescence assay revealed increased number of mitochondrial in 3T3-L1preadipocytes exposed to 50 μmol/L rutin.

  Conclusion  Rutin can reduce the formation of lipid droplets and promote beige adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.