Effects of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> GBCC_F0227 on Lipid Accumulation and Lipid Metabolism in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity is characterized by excessive lipid accumulation and chronic inflammation that disrupt metabolic homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> GBCC_F0227 on lipid metabolism using differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, exposure to GBCC_F0227 culture supernatant was associated with reduced intracellular triglyceride accumulation and lower expression of lipid metabolism-related genes. Consistent with the <i>in vitro</i> observations, oral administration of GBCC_F0227 attenuated body weight gain and adipose tissue expansion in HFD-fed mice, together with lower expression of HFD-induced lipid metabolism-related genes (<i>Pparg</i>, <i>Fabp4</i>, <i>Dgat2</i>, and <i>Cs</i>) in white adipose tissue (WAT). GBCC_F0227 treatment also reduced the expression of inflammatory markers (<i>Il-6</i>, <i>Il-1b</i>) as well as <i>Leptin</i>, in epididymal WAT. In the liver, GBCC_F0227 administration lowered the expression of <i>Pparg</i> and <i>Cd36</i> and reduced hepatic lipid accumulation. Collectively, these findings indicate that GBCC_F0227 administration is associated with coordinated changes in lipid accumulation and lipid metabolism-related gene expression in WAT and liver under HFD conditions. These results highlight the potential of GBCC_F0227 as a probiotic candidate for modulating obesity-associated lipid metabolic alterations.