The TRP channel agonists nonivamide and cinnamaldehyde augment cold-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipocytes

An increased conversion of white adipocytes to a “brite” adipocyte phenotype, characterized by increased number of mitochondria and increased expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UPC-1), represents a promising anti-obesity approach. Beside an activation of beta-adrenergic signalling by a cold ambient temperature, also the activation of several temperature-sensing transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels has been associated with browning of white adipocytes. In the present study, we hypothesized that the two food-derived aroma compounds and TRP-channel agonists nonivamide and cinnamaldehyde augment the thermogenic response of 3T3-L1 white adipocytes to a cold stimulus. We found that upon incubation at 29°C, 3T3-L1 adipocytes show an increased expressionof UCP-1 at the levels of gene transcripts and protein level as well as increased mitochondrial biogenesis in comparison to 37°C, confirming the validity of the cellular model. In addition, we demonstrate here that treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with 0.1μM nonivamide or 10μM cinnamaldehyde for 48 h increased mitochondrial biogenesis when incubated at 29°C, but not at 37°C. These data hint towards beneficial effects of the two aroma compounds when applied as a chronic treatment in addition to a cold stimulus, which has to be validated in future studies.