Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WB4201, WB4202, and WB4203 Modulated Adipogenesis, Lipogenesis, and Fatty Acid β-oxidation in 3T3-L1 Cells.

Obesity is a growing public health concern characterized by excessive lipid accumulation and metabolic dysfunction. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WB4201, WB4202, and WB4203 were isolated from kimchi and evaluated for their probiotic properties and anti-obesity effects. These strains exhibited strong probiotic potential, demonstrating high gastric tolerance, intestinal adhesion, and safety profiles. Notably, heat-treated L. plantarum strains significantly reduced triglyceride content and inhibited lipid accumulation by modulating metabolic pathways involved in adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and fatty acid β-oxidation. The heat-treated L. plantarum strains downregulated key regulators of adipocyte differentiation, including CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and RAC-β serine/threonine-protein kinase. In addition, they suppressed lipid synthesis by downregulating the expression of fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1. Furthermore, they promoted fatty acid oxidation by increasing the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 while reducing cluster of differentiation 36. These findings demonstrate that heat-treated L. plantarum WB4201, WB4202, and WB4203 can effectively modulate lipid metabolism and may serve as novel ingredients for the development of functional foods targeting obesity prevention and metabolic health improvement.