Objective To observe the effects of berberine on inflammatory factors, adipokines and fatty acid metabo-lism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying berberine’s role of improving insulin re-sistance. Methods mRNA level of inflammatory molecules, adipokines, key enzymes and protein in fatty acid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) after cells were treated with different concentrations of berberine (0, 5, 10, 20, 40μmol/L) for 24 hours and with 10μmol/L berberine at different du-rations (0,4,8,24,48 h). These factors mainly included interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), leptin, adipo-nectin, visfatin, fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (AFABP). Results In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, transcription level of IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, FAS, AT-GL, AFABP reduced with addition of berberine dosage at 10~40μmol/L(P<0.05)while visfatin mRNA level increased(P<0.05)compared with the control group. No significant difference was found in expression of adiponectin(P>0.05). Tran-scription level of IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, AFABP, ATGL, FAS decreased with time after 10μmol/L berberine intervention (8-48 h) compared with the control group(P<0.05). On the other hand, visfatin mRNA level increased(P<0.05)compared with the control group. Adiponectin mRNA decreased only after cells were treated with berberine for 48 h(P<0.05). No sig-nificant difference was found transcription of ACC between each groups treated with berberine(P > 0.05). Conclusion mRNA level of inflammatory factors, adipokines, key enzymes and protein in fatty acid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes can be affected by berberine and this effect depend on its dose and time . This might be the mechanisms underlying berber- ine to improve insulin resistance.%目的：观察小檗碱对3T3-L1脂肪细胞炎症因子、脂肪因子及脂肪酸代谢的影响，探讨小檗碱改善胰岛素抵抗的分子机制。方法3T3-L1脂肪细胞经不同浓度小檗碱（0、5、10、20和40μmol/L）处理24 h后，采用qRT-PCR技术检测相关因子mRNA表达水平，包括白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、瘦素、脂联素和内脂素以及脂肪酸合酶（FAS）、乙酰辅酶A羧化酶（ACC）、脂肪组织甘油三酯水解酶（ATGL）、脂肪细胞型脂肪酸结合蛋白（AFABP）。同时用10μmol/L小檗碱分别处理脂肪细胞0、4、8、24、48 h后，以相同方法测定上述指标mRNA表达水平。结果10~40μmol/L小檗碱剂量组的脂肪细胞内IL-6、TNF-α、瘦素、FAS、ATGL、AFABP mRNA表达水平均低于0μmol/L组，内脂素mRNA高于0μmol/L组（P<0.05），各组间脂联素mRNA表达无明显差异（P>0.05）。8~48 h时间处理组细胞内IL-6、TNF-α、瘦素、AFABP、ATGL、FAS mRNA表达水平均低于0 h组，内脂素mRNA水平高于0 h组（P<0.05）。脂联素mRNA表达水平仅在48 h处理组降低（P<0.05）。各组间ACC mRNA表达无明显差异（P>0.05）。结论小檗碱能影响3T3-L1脂肪细胞炎症因子、脂肪因子和关键脂肪酶及蛋白mRNA的表达，且呈时间、剂量依赖效应，这可能是其改善胰岛素抵抗的重要分子机制。
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