FIGURE 1.

CRABP-II sensitizes NIH3T3-L1 cells to RA-induced inhibition of adipogenesis. a, NIH3T3-L1 preadipocytes were infected with an empty adenovirus (Ad0) or adenovirus harboring CRABP-II cDNA (Ad-II) at 80% confluence. Two days later, cells were induced to differentiate. CRABP-II level in resulting mature adipocytes was assessed by immunoblotting. b, preadipocytes were infected with Ad0 or Ad-II as described in a and induced to differentiate in the absence or presence of denoted concentrations of RA. Micrographs show lipid accumulation at the end of differentiation. c, cells were treated as described in b, and triglyceride content at the end of differentiation was measured (Zen-Bio, triglyceride assay kit). d, cells were treated as described in b, and levels of C/EBP-β mRNA were measured by Q-PCR for 24 h following induction. Error bars indicate S.D. e, cells were treated as described in b, and expression of FABP4 in mature adipocytes was measured by immunoblots.