ABSTRACT: Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase and is upregulated in human obesity. CX-4945 (Silmitasertib) is a CK2 inhibitor with anti-cancerous and anti-adipogenic activities. However, the anti-adipogenic and pro-lipolytic effects and the mode of action of CX-4945 in (pre)adipocytes remain elusive. Here, we explored the effects of CX-4945 on adipogenesis and lipolysis in differentiating and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, a murine preadipocyte cell line. CX-4945 at 15 μM strongly reduced lipid droplet (LD) accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells, indicating the drug's anti-adipogenic effect. Mechanistically, CX-4945 reduced the expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and perilipin A in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Strikingly, CX-4945 further increased the phosphorylation levels of cAMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and liver kinase B-1 (LKB-1) while decreasing the intracellular ATP content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, CX-4945 had abilities to stimulate glycerol release and elevate the phosphorylation levels of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), pointing to the drug's pro-lipolytic effect. In addition, CX-4945 induced the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2), and PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK-1/2, attenuated the CX4945-induced glycerol release and HSL phosphorylation in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, indicating the drug's ERK-1/2-dependent lipolysis. In summary, this investigation shows that CX-4945 has strong anti-adipogenic and pro-lipolytic effects on differentiating and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, mediated by control of the expression and phosphorylation levels of CK2, C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, FAS, ACC, perilipin A, AMPK, LKB-1, ERK-1/2, and HSL.
