AZD1208, a pan-Pim kinase inhibitor, inhibits adipogenesis and induces lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The proviral integration moloney murine leukaemia virus (Pim) kinases, consisting of Pim-1, Pim-2 and Pim-3, are involved in the control of cell growth, metabolism and differentiation. Pim kinases are emerging as important mediators of adipocyte differentiation. AZD1208 is a pan-Pim kinase inhibitor and is known for its anti-cancer activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of AZD1208 on adipogenesis and lipolysis in 3T3-L1 cells, a murine preadipocyte cell line. AZD1208 markedly suppressed lipid accumulation and reduced triglyceride contents in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells, suggesting the drug's anti-adipogenic effect. On mechanistic levels, AZD1208 reduced not only the expressions of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-alpha), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and perilipin A but also the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Remarkably, AZD1208 increased cAMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and LKB-1 phosphorylation while decreased intracellular ATP contents in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, AZD1208 also partially promoted lipolysis and enhanced the phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), a key lipolytic enzyme, indicating the drug's HSL-dependent lipolysis. In summary, the findings show that AZD1208 has anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These effects are mediated by the expression and/or phosphorylation levels of C/EBP-alpha, PPAR-gamma, FAS, ACC, perilipin A, STAT-3, AMPK and HSL.