Positive effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the PGC1-α expression under the inflammatory conditions induced by TNF-α in the C2C12 cell line.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the expression of the genes involved in the reduction of inflammatory conditions induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). To fulfill this, the C2C12 murine myoblast cell line was used. The experimental treatments consisted of 50 and 100 µM of CLA with 10, 15 and 20 ng/mL of TNF-α. Our results indicated that the concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 µM of CLA at 24 and 48 h increased the cell survival rate (p < 0.05), as compared with the control group. The effect of pre-treating CLA before the inflammation induced by TNF-α showed that the amount of cell death caused by TNF-α was inhibited in both 50 and 100 µM concentrations of CLA (p < 0.05). Modulatory effects of CLA on PGC1-α and Fndc5 transcript levels showed that the PGC1-α and Fndc5 expression levels were significantly increased 48 h after treating with 50 and 100 µM of CLA (p < 0.05). Overall, these findings indicate that using CLA could considerably improve the inflammatory condition induced by TNF-α.