An Artemisia scoparia extract and rosiglitazone have distinct but overlapping effects on adipocyte function.

The effects of the PPAR-gamma agonist rosiglitazone (ROSI) on adipocyte gene expression have been extensively studied. Like ROSI, both SCO and a bioactive derivative, capillartemesin 7 (CAP7) inhibit lipolysis induced by the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha; they appear to do so through PPARg-dependent mechanisms that are overlapping but not identical to those engaged by ROSI. To compare the transcriptional effects of SCO, CAP7, and ROSI, we performed a comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data from fully differentiated adipocytes that were treated with DMSO vehicle, SCO, CAP7, or ROSI, in the presence or absence of TNFa. Gene ontology and pathway analyses were performed to provide guidance for developing additional hypotheses to investigate mechanism of action underlying the ability of SCO and CAP7 to reduce TNFa-induced lipolysis and affect overall adipocyte function.