Introduction: Mitochondrial biogenesis is a complex process, and several factors and signaling pathways regulate this process in muscle or brown adipocytes. The aim of the study was to explore pathways affecting mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in human white adipocytes.

Methods: Human preadipocytes obtained from liposuction samples were differentiated in vitro. On the 10th day of differentiation, 4 μm forskolin and 1 μm peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonist (pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, or GW 929) or 10 μm PPARα agonist (WY-14,643) were added to the media for 96 h. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine gene expression/mitochondrial copy number and ¹⁴C-labeled palmitate to measure direct energy dissipation.

Results: The treatment of adipocytes with forskolin increased mitochondrial copy number and the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis (PPARγ coactivator 1α and transcriptional factor A) and fatty acid oxidation (PPARα and medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase). The end (CO₂) and intermediate products (¹⁴C-labeled acid-soluble products) of FAO were also increased after forskolin treatment. PPARγ and PPARα agonists increased mitochondrial copy number, uncoupling protein 1, medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, but did not change PPARα, PPARγ coactivator 1α, or transcriptional factor A mRNA levels. FAO was higher after rosiglitazone, GW 929, and WY-14,643 but not after pioglitazone treatment.

Conclusions: Pharmacological activation of the cAMP or PPARγ pathway pushes the white adipocyte down the oxidative continuum. The direct energy-dissipating effects could be significant tools to treat obesity and to improve insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients by reduction of fat accumulation in adipocytes or by reprogramming fatty acid metabolism.