The vascular endothelium of the adipose tissue gives rise to both white and brown fat cells
Tran, Khanh-Van ; Gealekman, Olga ; Frontini, Andrea ; Zingaretti, Maria Cristina ; Morroni, Manrico ; Giordano, Antonio ; Smorlesi, Arianna ; Perugini, Jessica ; De Matteis, Rita ; Sbarbati, Andrea ... show 2 more
Citations
Student Authors
Faculty Advisor
Academic Program
Document Type
Publication Date
Keywords
Subject Area
Embargo Expiration Date
Link to Full Text
Abstract
Adipose tissue expansion involves the enlargement of existing adipocytes, the formation of new cells from committed preadipocytes, and the coordinated development of the tissue vascular network. Here we find that murine endothelial cells (ECs) of classic white and brown fat depots share ultrastructural characteristics with pericytes, which are pluripotent and can potentially give rise to preadipocytes. Lineage tracing experiments using the VE-cadherin promoter reveal localization of reporter genes in ECs and also in preadipocytes and adipocytes of white and brown fat depots. Furthermore, capillary sprouts from human adipose tissue, which have predominantly EC characteristics, are found to express Zfp423, a recently identified marker of preadipocyte determination. In response to PPARĪ³ activation, endothelial characteristics of sprouting cells are progressively lost, and cells form structurally and biochemically defined adipocytes. Together these data support an endothelial origin of murine and human adipocytes, suggesting a model for how adipogenesis and angiogenesis are coordinated during adipose tissue expansion.
Source
Tran KV, Gealekman O, Frontini A, Zingaretti MC, Morroni M, Giordano A, Smorlesi A, Perugini J, De Matteis R, Sbarbati A, Corvera S, Cinti S. The vascular endothelium of the adipose tissue gives rise to both white and brown fat cells. Cell Metab. 2012 Feb 8;15(2):222-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2012.01.008. PMID: 22326223; PMCID: PMC3278718.