Isolation of free brown and white fat cells

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation

Obesity promotes a chronic inflammatory state that is largely mediated by tissue-resident macrophages as well as monocyte-derived macrophages. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) is a valuable model in studying the role of macrophage heterogeneity; however, adequate macrophage isolations are difficult to acquire from inflamed tissues. In this protocol, we outline the isolation steps and necessary troubleshooting guidelines derived from our studies for obtaining a suitable population of tissue-resident macrophages from mice following 18 weeks of high-fat (HFD) or high-fat/high-cholesterol (HFHCD) diet intervention. This protocol focuses on three hallmark tissues studied in obesity and atherosclerosis including the liver, white adipose tissues (WAT), and the aorta. We highlight how dualistic usage of flow cytometry can achieve a new dimension of isolation and characterization of tissue-resident macrophages. A fundamental section of this protocol addresses the intricacies underlying tissue-specific enzymatic digestions and macrophage isolation, and subsequent cell-surface antibody staining for flow cytometric analysis. This protocol addresses existing complexities underlying fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS) and presents clarifications to these complexities so as to obtain broad range characterization from adequately sorted cell populations. Alternate enrichment methods are included for sorting cells, such as the dense liver, allowing for flexibility and time management when working with FACS. In brief, this protocol aids the researcher to evaluate macrophage heterogeneity from a multitude of inflamed tissues in a given study and provides insightful troubleshooting tips that have been successful for favorable cellular isolation and characterization of immune cells in DIO-mediated inflammation.

Automated isolation and processing of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells

The popularity of nonhematopoietic, adult tissue-derived stem and progenitor cells for use as a cellular research tool, and ultimately as a clinical therapeutic, has increased exponentially over the past decade. Almost all adult-derived stem/progenitor cells (autologous and allogeneic), with one exception, require at least some ex vivo expansion or further manipulation prior to use to satisfy efficacy and safety requirements for preclinical or clinical use. The principal reason is the relatively low frequency of these therapeutically valuable cells within any given adult tissue, except for adipose tissue, which has been shown to have at least two log greater concentrations of these progenitor cells. Therefore, use of autologous adipose-derived cells as both a research tool and cell therapeutic is feasible and has been shown to be both safe and efficacious in preclinical and clinical models of injury and disease. The development and utilization of automated processes and instrumentation such as Cytori Therapeutics' Celution® System to reduce variability and increase quality of the recovered cells is requisite for clinical use and preferred by basic researchers. Here, use of an automated, closed processing platform for isolation and concentration of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells is described, including a profile of the isolated cells immediately prior to use, and commonly used methods to quantify and qualitatively assess the recovered cells.

The adipose tissue phenotype of hormone-sensitive lipase deficiency in mice

OBJECTIVE

To directly ascertain the physiological roles in adipocytes of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL; E.C. 3.1.1.3), a multifunctional hydrolase that can mediate triacylglycerol cleavage in adipocytes.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

We performed constitutive gene targeting of the mouse HSL gene (Lipe), subsequently studied the adipose tissue phenotype clinically and histologically, and measured lipolysis in isolated adipocytes.

RESULTS

Homozygous HSL-/- mice have no detectable HSL peptide or cholesteryl esterase activity in adipose tissue, and heterozygous mice have intermediate levels with respect to wild-type and deficient littermates. HSL-deficient mice have normal body weight but reduced abdominal fat mass compared with normal littermates. Histologically, both white and brown adipose tissues in HSL-/- mice show marked heterogeneity in cell size, with markedly enlarged adipocytes juxtaposed to cells of normal morphology. In isolated HSL-/- adipocytes, lipolysis is not significantly increased by beta3-adrenergic stimulation, but under basal conditions in the absence of added catecholamines, the lipolytic rate of isolated HSL-/- adipocytes is at least as high as that of cells from normal controls. Cold tolerance during a 48-hour period at 4 degrees C was similar in HSL-/- mice and controls. Overnight fasting was well-tolerated clinically by HSL-/- mice, but after fasting, liver triglyceride content was significantly lower in HSL-/- mice compared with wild-type controls.

CONCLUSIONS

In isolated fat cells, the lipolytic rate after beta-adrenergic stimulation is mainly dependent on HSL. However, the observation of a normal rate of lipolysis in unstimulated HSL-/- adipocytes suggests that HSL-independent lipolytic pathway(s) exist in fat. Physiologically, HSL deficiency in mice has a modest effect under normal fed conditions and is compatible with normal maintenance of core body temperature during cold stress. However, the lipolytic response to overnight fasting is subnormal.

Effects of the oral administration of a beta3-adrenergic agonist on lipid metabolism in alloxan-diabetic rats

Previous studies have reported that beta3-adrenergic agonists regulate plasma glucose, triglycerides and free fatty acids in situations of hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia in rodents. In this study Trecadrine, a novel compound with affinity for beta3-adrenergic receptors, has been tested in an alloxan-induced model of hyperglycaemia in rats. Alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats were orally treated with Trecadrine (1 mg/kg/day for 4 days), resulting in an improvement of hyperglycaemia (from 16.6 to 8.3 mmol L(-1), P < 0.001). This effect was not associated with statistical differences in plasma insulin levels, which may be explained by changes in insulin resistance and carbohydrate oxidation in peripheral tissues. Furthermore, a reduction in internal white fat weight (-39%), which was not statistically significant, as well as in plasma triglycerides (from 1.89 to 0.33 mmol L(-1), P < 0.001) and free fatty acids (from 0.70 to 0.39 mmol L(-1), P < 0.001), was found after Trecadrine administration. Trecadrine apparently induced lipolytic activity in adipocytes, as suggested by the increase of oxygen consumption in white adipose tissue (+282%, P < 0.001), while free fatty acids decreased apparently through their utilisation in other tissues. Furthermore, the increase in brown adipose tissue oxygen consumption (+50%, P < 0.01) and in rectal temperature (P < 0.05) suggests that both glucose and fatty acid oxidation may be enhanced in this tissue. These results give support to the possible therapeutic use of beta3-adrenergic compounds in situations of hyperglycaemia, particularly when this is accompanied by hypertriglyceridaemia.

A simple device for the optimized isolation of fat cells

We describe a simple cell isolation device that allows the separation and sequential collection of fat cells as they are released from adipose tissue fragments exposed to a collagenase preparation. This is done without interrupting the digestion process. Use of the device allows for appreciable lowering of the degree of cell damage and the extent to which larger cells are ruptured during the isolation process. Fat cells isolated by this technique elicit a higher level of metabolic activity as reflected by their improved response to the lipolytic action of epinephrine.

Evidence that phorbol ester-activated pathways are not directly involved in the action of insulin in rat adipocytes

The effects of 12-phorbol 13-myristate acetate (PMA) on glucose transport, glucose metabolism and lipolysis in rat adipocytes were examined. Alone, PMA (100 ng/ml) stimulated 2-deoxyglucose transport, glucose oxidation and lipogenesis by an amount corresponding to about 30-50% of the maximal insulin effect. The effect of PMA on the insulin-stimulated processes was additive at all insulin concentrations. Adenosine deaminase-stimulated lipolysis was enhanced by about 50% by PMA (100 ng/ml). Thus, in contrast to insulin, PMA had a lipolytic effect. The antilipolytic effect of insulin was unaffected by the presence of PMA, both ED50 and maximal inhibition of insulin were unchanged. In conclusion, it is suggested that phorbol esters may activate pathways other than those activated by insulin in rat adipocytes.

Use of adipose tissue for metabolic studies

Open biopsy of adipose tissue from volunteer subjects has led to a greater understanding of the mechanisms of adipose-tissue insulin resistance in various clinical states. Studies of adipose tissue obtained during surgical operations have allowed development of techniques and exploration of adipocyte physiology. This has been particularly valuable in examining the relationship between cellular insulin binding and action. Examination of the lipid stores and of enzyme activities has been possible by using the more convenient technique of needle biopsy. Regional differences in adipose tissue metabolism have been identified and must be considered in experimental design. It is now clear that the insulin sensitivity of any one metabolic pathway does not necessarily reflect that of others, and care must be taken to avoid inappropriate extrapolation of data both between metabolic pathways in the adipocyte itself and from the adipocyte to the whole body.

Glucose metabolism in isolated brown adipocytes under beta-adrenergic stimulation. Quantitative contribution of glucose to total thermogenesis

To quantify the potential of brown adipose tissue as a target organ for glucose oxidation, O2 consumption and glucose metabolism in isolated rat brown adipocytes were measured in the presence and absence of insulin, by using the beta-agonists isoprenaline or Ro 16-8714 to stimulate thermogenesis. Basal metabolic rate (278 mumol of O2/h per g of lipid) was maximally stimulated with isoprenaline (20 nm) and Ro 16-8714 (20 microM) to 1633 and 1024 mumol of O2/h per g respectively, whereas insulin had no effect on O2 consumption. Total glucose uptake, derived from the sum of [U-14C]glucose incorporation into CO2 and total lipids and lactate release, was enhanced with insulin. Isoprenaline and Ro 16-8714 had no effect on insulin-induced glucose uptake, but promoted glucose oxidation while inhibiting insulin-dependent lipogenesis and lactate production. A maximal value for glucose oxidation was obtained under the combined action of Ro 16-8714 and insulin, which corresponded to an equivalent of 165 mumol of O2/h per g of lipid. This makes it clear that glucose is a minor substrate for isolated brown adipocytes, fuelling thermogenesis by a maximum of 16%.

Metabolism of the diacetyl derivatives of stereoisomeric monoacyl-sn-glycerols by rat adipocytes in vitro

Diacetyl long-chain 1(3)- and 2-acyl-sn-glycerols containing either [9,10-3H]oleic acid or [1-14C]palmitic acid were synthesized by partial hydrolysis of the corresponding labelled triacylglycerols and acetylation. They were obtained in a high degree of stereochemical purity by preparative h.p.l.c. on a column containing a diol bonded phase. Each compound was rapidly metabolized by adipocyte preparations in vitro, and a high proportion of the label was recovered in the unesterified fatty acid and triacylglycerol fractions. Negligible amounts of intermediate products of hydrolysis were detected. Triacylglycerols were formed from [9,10-3H]oleic acid and from diacetyl-1(3)-[9,10-3H]oleoyl glycerol precursors at about the same rate, but the 2-isomer was metabolized rather more slowly. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that essentially complete hydrolysis occurred in the medium or at the plasma membrane, through the actions of lipoprotein lipase and monoacylglycerol lipase, and that subsequent esterification took place within the cell. To confirm that no putative intermediate monoacylglycerols were utilized for triacylglycerol biosynthesis via the monacylglycerol pathway, the positional distributions of fatty acids in triacylglycerols from each substrate were determined. No positional selectivity was observed. It was concluded that monoacylglycerols, of an origin exogenous to the tissue, e.g. those derived from plasma triacylglycerols, were not utilized to a significant degree for triacylglycerol biosynthesis in adipose tissue. The diacetyl derivatives of monoacylglycerols may serve as useful stereochemical probes in studies of triacylglycerol biosynthesis via the monoacylglycerol pathway in other tissues.

Exclusive occurrence of thermogenin antigen in brown adipose tissue

Thermogenin is the purine-nucleotide binding polypeptide in brown adipose tissue mitochondria (Mr 32 000) which confers upon these mitochondria the ability to produce heat. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to demonstrate and quantitate the occurrence of thermogenin antigen in small amounts of tissue, and thus to characterize different depots of fat tissue as white or brown. The extreme sensitivity of the method allows determination of thermogenin in samples equivalent to less than 1 mg tissue. The results indicate that thermogenin seems to be exclusively localised in brown fat mitochondria (as compared to white fat, liver or heart muscle mitochondria), and thermogenin antigen could only be found in brown adipocytes (as compared to white adipocytes). Thus, brown and white adipose tissue are probably ontogenetically different.

Hexose transport in human adipocytes: factors influencing the response to insulin and kinetics of methylglucose and glucose transport

Optimal experimental conditions were defined for measuring the initial uptake rate of the non-metabolizable sugar analogue 3-O-methylglucose in non-stimulated and insulin-stimulated human adipocytes. The permeability of the adipocyte plasma membrane for tracer methylglucose (100 mumol/l) was 2.9 X 10(-7) cm X s-1 at 37 degrees C and slightly lower at 20 degrees C. At 37 degrees C and pH 7.4 insulin (5 nmol/l) increased the permeability about twofold (range 1.5 to fivefold) with half maximal effect at about 100 pmol/l). At pH 7.0 the dose response curve for the insulin effect on the uptake rate of methylglucose was shifted about 2.5-fold to the right. The permeability to L-glucose due to simple diffusion was estimated as 3.0 X 10(-10) cm X s-1 suggesting that uptake of methylglucose occurs almost exclusively by facilitated diffusion. The Km for methylglucose equilibrium exchange in insulin stimulated cells was about 4.8 mmol/l. The initial uptake of tracer methylglucose in insulin-stimulated cells was inhibited by unlabelled methylglucose and by D-glucose with inhibition constants of about 3.8 and 7.7 mmol/l respectively. Uptake of tracer 2-deoxyglucose (50 mumol/l) in insulin-stimulated adipocytes was linear from 10 s to 5 min whereas the rate of uptake in the presence of 3 mmol/l of D-glucose was markedly decreased suggesting that deoxyglucose uptake after a few minutes is mainly limited by hexokinase in the presence of glucose.

Stereospecific distribution of palmitic acid in the triacylglycerols of rat adipocytes. Effects of varying the composition of the substrate fatty acid in vitro

The effects of inclusion of different fatty acids in the medium on the rate of esterification of palmitic acid and its stereospecific distribution among the three positions of the triacyl-sn-glycerols by preparations of rat adipocytes in vitro have been determined. Myristic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were used as diluents and the concentration of the combined unesterified fatty acids in the medium was held constant; only the proportion of palmitic acid was varied. The amount of palmitic acid esterified was always linearly related to its relative concentration in the medium and was not significantly affected by the nature of the diluent fatty acid chosen. Constant relative proportions were recovered in triacylglycerols and in intermediates in each instance. The amount of palmitic acid esterified to each of the positions of the triacyl-sn-glycerols was linearly dependent on the relative proportion in the medium but the nature of the relationship was markedly influenced by which fatty acid was present. When stearic acid was present, simple relationships were found over the whole range tested. When either myristic acid, oleic acid or linoleic acid was present, abrupt changes in the manner of esterification of palmitic acid were observed in position sn-1 when the relative concentrations of palmitic acid and the diluent reached critical values, which differed with each fatty acid. In position sn-2 when oleic acid or linoleic acid was present, a similar change was observed, and in position sn-3 it was obtained with myristic acid as diluent. The results are discussed in terms of changes in the relative affinities of the acyltransferases for palmitic acid. Palmitic acid was esterified into various molecular species in proportions that indicated acylation with non-correlative specificity at higher relative concentrations but not at lower.

Esterification of exogenous and endogenous fatty acids by rat adipocytes in vitro

Rat adipocytes were used in vivo to compare the esterification of exogenous fatty acids and fatty acids formed de novo from glucose or acetate. Pure single fatty acids added to the medium were esterified at comparable rates but marked differences were observed when the same acids were supplied as components of a fatty acid mixture of a composition similar to that in the tissue. Fatty acids synthesised de novo from acetate by adipocytes in a medium containing high concentrations of acetate were located predominantly in diacylglycerols. The effect was most marked with adipocytes from older rats and was enhanced by the presence of exogenous long-chain fatty acids. Exogenous oleic acid was esterified predominantly into triacylglycerols at all concentrations of acetate. No such accumulation of endogenously-synthesised fatty acids in diacylglycerols occurred when glucose was the precursor for fatty acid synthesis. The diacylglycerols formed were almost entirely of the sn-1,2-configuration.

Norepinephrine-stimulated fatty-acid release and oxygen consumption in isolated hamster brown-fat cells. Influence of buffers, albumin, insulin and mitochondrial inhibitors

Brown fat cells isolated from adult golden hamsters have earlier been found to respond to addition of the physiological agonist norepinephrine with an increased rate of oxygen consumption and with fatty acid release. Working with these cells, we found the following. 1. The presence of albumin in the incubation medium (phosphate buffer) increases norepinephrine-induced fatty acid release and tends to stabilize the rate of oxygen consumption; bubbling of phosphate buffer with 5% CO2 in air has only a slight effect on fatty acid release. 2. In the presence of albumin, the norepinephrine-induced rate of oxygen consumption is also stable in bicarbonate buffer; it is higher than in the phosphate + CO2 buffer and the brown fat cells have a higher sensitivity to norepinephrine. 3. 20 mM phosphate (as e.g. present in a phosphate buffer) inhibits both fatty acid release and oxygen consumption. 4. Insulin inhibits the rate of oxygen consumption, but only at suboptimal concentrations of norepinephrine. 5. Atractylate inhibits submaximal norepinephrine-induced respiration, indicating that some oxidative phosphorylation takes place in norepinephrine-stimulated brown fat cells. 6. Fatty acid export from brown fat should be regarded as physiologically important.

Prostaglandin production and lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes as affected by dietary fat

The influence of dietary fat on prostaglandin production and lipolysis was tested in basal and norepinephrine stimulated adipocytes isolated from the epididymal fat pads of fasted rats. Seven diets varying in fat calories and polyunsaturation were utilized. No basal differences were noted for prostaglandin E2 production or lipolysis. Norepinephrine stimulated prostaglandin E2 and F2alpha production was significantly (P less than 0.01) increased with greater polyunsaturation of fat, but not by increased fat calories. Norepinephrine stimulated lipolysis was depressed by an increase in fat calories but was unaffected by the degree of polyunsaturation of fat. This is in vitro evidence against the concept that prostaglandins play a feedback regulator role in fat cell lipolysis since no correlation could be made between the two parameters.