Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) as a molecular target for the soy phytoestrogen genistein

Abstract

The principal soy phytoestrogen genistein has an array of biological actions. It binds to estrogen receptor (ER) α and β and has ER-mediated estrogenic effects. In addition, it has antiestrogenic effects as well as non-ER-mediated effects such as inhibition of tyrosine kinase. Because of its complex biological actions, the molecular mechanisms of action of genistein are poorly understood. Here we show that genistein dose-dependently increases estrogenic transcriptional activity in mesenchymal progenitor cells, but its biological effects on osteogenesis and adipogenesis are different. At low concentrations (≤1 μM), genistein acts as estrogen, stimulating osteogenesis and inhibiting adipogenesis. At high concentrations (>1 μM), however, genistein acts as a ligand of PPARγ, leading to up-regulation of adipogenesis and down-regulation of osteogenesis. Transfection experiments show that activation of PPARγ by genistein at the micromolar concentrations down-regulates its estrogenic transcriptional activity, while activation of ERα or ERβ by genistein downregulates PPARγ transcriptional activity. Genistein concurrently activates two different transcriptional factors, ERs and PPARγ, which have opposite effects on osteogenesis or adipogenesis. As a result, the balance between activated ERs and PPARγ determines the biological effects of genistein on osteogenesis and adipogenesis. Our findings may explain distinct effects of genistein in different tissues.