Conditionally immortalized white preadipocytes: a novel adipocyte model

Perspectives on scaling production of adipose tissue for food applications

With rising global demand for food proteins and significant environmental impact associated with conventional animal agriculture, it is important to develop sustainable alternatives to supplement existing meat production. Since fat is an important contributor to meat flavor, recapitulating this component in meat alternatives such as plant based and cell cultured meats is important. Here, we discuss the topic of cell cultured or tissue engineered fat, growing adipocytes in vitro that could imbue meat alternatives with the complex flavor and aromas of animal meat. We outline potential paths for the large scale production of in vitro cultured fat, including adipogenic precursors during cell proliferation, methods to adipogenically differentiate cells at scale, as well as strategies for converting differentiated adipocytes into 3D cultured fat tissues. We showcase the maturation of knowledge and technology behind cell sourcing and scaled proliferation, while also highlighting that adipogenic differentiation and 3D adipose tissue formation at scale need further research. We also provide some potential solutions for achieving adipose cell differentiation and tissue formation at scale based on contemporary research and the state of the field.

Critical roles of transcriptional coactivator MED1 in the formation and function of mouse adipose tissues

In this study, Ito et al. sought to understand the precise roles of MED1, and its various domains, at various stages of adipogenesis and in adipose tissue. Using multiple genetic approaches to assess requirements for MED1 in adipocyte formation and function in mice, they show that MED1 is indeed essential for the differentiation and/or function of both brown and white adipocytes, as its absence in these cells leads to, respectively, defective brown fat function and lipodystrophy.

The MED1 subunit has been shown to mediate ligand-dependent binding of the Mediator coactivator complex to multiple nuclear receptors, including the adipogenic PPARγ, and to play an essential role in ectopic PPARγ-induced adipogenesis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. However, the precise roles of MED1, and its various domains, at various stages of adipogenesis and in adipose tissue have been unclear. Here, after establishing requirements for MED1, including specific domains, for differentiation of 3T3L1 cells and both primary white and brown preadipocytes, we used multiple genetic approaches to assess requirements for MED1 in adipocyte formation, maintenance, and function in mice. We show that MED1 is indeed essential for the differentiation and/or function of both brown and white adipocytes, as its absence in these cells leads to, respectively, defective brown fat function and lipodystrophy. This work establishes MED1 as an essential transcriptional coactivator that ensures homeostatic functions of adipocytes.

Androgen Reduces Mitochondrial Respiration in Mouse Brown Adipocytes: A Model for Disordered Energy Balance in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy that is associated with an adverse metabolic profile including reduced postprandial thermogenesis. Although abnormalities in adipose tissue function have been widely reported in women with PCOS, less is known about direct effects of androgen on white and, particularly, brown adipocytes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the nonaromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on (1) lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenic markers in immortalized mouse brown adipose cell lines (IMBATs), (2) mitochondrial respiration in IMBATs, (3) mitochondrial DNA content and gene expression, (4) expression of brown adipose tissue (BAT) markers and thermogenic activation. In addition, we profiled the relative levels of 38 adipokines secreted from BAT explants and looked at androgen effects on adipokine gene expression in both IMBATs and immortalized mouse white adipose (IMWATs) cell lines. Androgen treatment inhibited IMBAT differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, reduced markers of adipogenesis, and attenuated the β-adrenoceptor-stimulated increase in uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) expression. In explants of mouse interscapular BAT, androgen reduced expression of UCP1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1 (PCG-1) and Cidea. Significantly, as well as affecting genes involved in thermogenesis in BAT, androgen treatment reduced mitochondrial respiration in IMBATs, as measured by the Seahorse XF method. The results of this study suggest a role for excess androgen in inhibiting brown adipogenesis, attenuating the activation of thermogenesis and reducing mitochondrial respiration in BAT. Together, these data provide a plausible molecular mechanism that may contribute to reduced postprandial thermogenesis and the tendency to obesity in women with PCOS.

Developmental and functional heterogeneity of white adipocytes within a single fat depot

Recent studies suggest that, even within a single adipose depot, there may be distinct subpopulations of adipocytes. To investigate this cellular heterogeneity, we have developed multiple conditionally immortalized clonal preadipocyte lines from white adipose tissue of mice. Analysis of these clones reveals at least three white adipocyte subpopulations. These subpopulations have differences in metabolism and differentially respond to inflammatory cytokines, insulin, and growth hormones. These also have distinct gene expression profiles and can be tracked by differential expression of three marker genes: Wilms' tumor 1, transgelin, and myxovirus 1. Lineage tracing analysis with dual-fluorescent reporter mice indicates that these adipocyte subpopulations have differences in gene expression and metabolism that mirror those observed in the clonal cell lines. Furthermore, preadipocytes and adipocytes from these subpopulations differ in their abundance in different fat depots. Thus, white adipose tissue, even in a single depot, is comprised of distinct subpopulations of white adipocytes with different physiological phenotypes. These differences in adipocyte composition may contribute to the differences in metabolic behavior and physiology of different fat depots.

Conditional immortalization of primary adipocyte precursor cells

The production of new adipocytes requires the differentiation of adipocyte precursor (AP) cells residing within the adipose tissue stromal-vascular compartment. The objective was to obtain an immortalized primary adipogenic cell line derived from FACS isolated committed APs using the conditional expression of SV40 T antigen. Adipocyte precursors were isolated from white adipose tissue (WAT) using FACS to remove non-adipogenic cell populations from mice expressing a conditionally regulated SV40 T antigen. APs were maintained by continuous culture and induced to undergo adipogenic differentiation. Adipogenesis, determined by Oil Red O staining, was assessed with each passage and compared to wildtype controls. Adipogenic capability was rapidly lost with increased passage number in committed APs with concurrent reduction in cell proliferation and expression of essential late adipogenic genes, including Pparγ and C/ebpα. Thus, FACS purified committed APs have limited capability to undergo expansion and subsequent adipogenic differentiation in vitro even if they are immortalized with the SV40 T antigen.

Development of an OP9 derived cell line as a robust model to rapidly study adipocyte differentiation

One hallmark of obesity is adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia. To gain novel insights into adipose biology and therapeutics, there is a pressing need for a robust, rapid, and informative cell model of adipocyte differentiation for potential RNAi and drug screens. Current models are prohibitive for drug and RNAi screens due to a slow differentiation time course and resistance to transfection. We asked if we could create a rapid, robust model of adipogenesis to potentially enable rapid functional and obesity therapeutic screens. We generated the clonal population OP9-K, which differentiates rapidly and reproducibly, and displays classic adipocyte morphology: rounded cell shape, lipid accumulation, and coalescence of lipids into a large droplet. We further validate the OP9-K cells as an adipocyte model system by microarray analysis of the differentiating transcriptome. OP9-K differentiates via known adipogenic pathways, involving the transcriptional activation and repression of common adipose markers Plin1, Gata2, C/Ebpα and C/Ebpβ and biological pathways, such as lipid metabolism, PPARγ signaling, and osteogenesis. We implemented a method to quantify lipid accumulation using automated microscopy and tested the ability of our model to detect alterations in lipid accumulation by reducing levels of the known master adipogenic regulator Pparγ. We further utilized our model to query the effects of a novel obesity therapeutic target, the transcription factor SPI1. We determine that reduction in levels of Spi1 leads to an increase in lipid accumulation. We demonstrate rapid, robust differentiation and efficient transfectability of the OP9-K cell model of adipogenesis. Together with our microscopy based lipid accumulation assay, adipogenesis assays can be achieved in just four days' time. The results of this study can contribute to the development of rapid screens with the potential to deepen our understanding of adipose biology and efficiently test obesity therapeutics.

Downregulation of RIP140 in hepatocellular carcinoma promoted the growth and migration of the cancer cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies with a poor response to chemotherapy. It is very important to identify novel diagnosis biomarkers and therapeutic targets. RIP140, a regulator of estrogen receptor, recently has been found to be involved in the tumorigenesis. However, its function in the progression of HCC remains poorly understood. Here, we found that the expression of RIP140 was downregulated in the HCC tissues. Moreover, overexpression of RIP140 in HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation and migration, while downregulation of RIP140 promoted the tumorigenicity of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RIP140 interacted with beta-catenin and negatively regulated beta-catenin/TCF signaling. Taken together, our study suggests the suppressive roles of RIP140 in the pathogenesis of HCC.

Brown and white adipose tissues: intrinsic differences in gene expression and response to cold exposure in mice

Brown adipocytes dissipate energy, whereas white adipocytes are an energy storage site. We explored the plasticity of different white adipose tissue depots in acquiring a brown phenotype by cold exposure. By comparing cold-induced genes in white fat to those enriched in brown compared with white fat, at thermoneutrality we defined a "brite" transcription signature. We identified the genes, pathways, and promoter regulatory motifs associated with "browning," as these represent novel targets for understanding this process. For example, neuregulin 4 was more highly expressed in brown adipose tissue and upregulated in white fat upon cold exposure, and cell studies showed that it is a neurite outgrowth-promoting adipokine, indicative of a role in increasing adipose tissue innervation in response to cold. A cell culture system that allows us to reproduce the differential properties of the discrete adipose depots was developed to study depot-specific differences at an in vitro level. The key transcriptional events underpinning white adipose tissue to brown transition are important, as they represent an attractive proposition to overcome the detrimental effects associated with metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes.

RIP140 represses the "brown-in-white" adipocyte program including a futile cycle of triacylglycerol breakdown and synthesis

Receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140) is a corepressor of nuclear receptors that is highly expressed in adipose tissues. We investigated the role of RIP140 in conditionally immortal preadipocyte cell lines prepared from white or brown fat depots. In white adipocytes, a large set of brown fat-associated genes was up-regulated in the absence of RIP140. In contrast, a relatively minor role can be ascribed to RIP140 in the control of basal gene expression in differentiated brown adipocytes because significant changes were observed only in Ptgds and Fabp3. The minor role of RIP140 in brown adipocytes correlates with the similar histology and uncoupling protein 1 and CIDEA staining in knockout compared with wild-type brown adipose tissue (BAT). In contrast, RIP140 knockout sc white adipose tissue (WAT) shows increased numbers of multilocular adipocytes with elevated staining for uncoupling protein 1 and CIDEA. Furthermore in a white adipocyte cell line, the markers of BRITE adipocytes, Tbx1, CD137, Tmem26, Cited1, and Epsti1 were repressed in the presence of RIP140 as was Prdm16. Microarray analysis of wild-type and RIP140-knockout white fat revealed elevated expression of genes associated with cold-induced expression or high expression in BAT. A set of genes associated with a futile cycle of triacylglycerol breakdown and resynthesis and functional assays revealed that glycerol kinase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as well as [³H]glycerol incorporation were elevated in the absence of RIP140. Thus, RIP140 blocks the BRITE program in WAT, preventing the expression of brown fat genes and inhibiting a triacylglycerol futile cycle, with important implications for energy homeostasis.

Modulation of clock gene expression by the transcriptional coregulator receptor interacting protein 140 (RIP140)

Circadian rhythms are generated in central and peripheral tissues by an intracellular oscillating timing mechanism known as the circadian clock. Several lines of evidence show a strong and bidirectional interplay between metabolism and circadian rhythms. Receptor interacting protein 140 (RIP140) is a coregulator for nuclear receptors and other transcription factors that represses catabolic pathways in metabolic tissues. Although RIP140 functions as a corepressor for most nuclear receptors, mounting evidence points to RIP140 as a dual coregulator that can repress or activate different sets of genes. Here, we demonstrate that RIP140 mRNA and protein levels are under circadian regulation and identify RIP140 as a modulator of clock gene expression, suggesting that RIP140 can participate in a feedback mechanism affecting the circadian clock. We show that the absence of RIP140 disturbs the basal levels of BMAL1 and other clock genes, reducing the amplitude of their oscillations. In addition, we demonstrate that RIP140 is recruited to retinoid-related orphan receptor (ROR) binding sites on the BMAL1 promoter, directly interacts with RORα, and increases transcription from the BMAL1 promoter in a RORα-dependent manner. These results indicate that RIP140 is not only involved in metabolic control but also acts as a coactivator for RORα, influencing clock gene expression.

Role of nuclear receptor corepressor RIP140 in metabolic syndrome

Obesity and its associated complications, which can lead to the development of metabolic syndrome, are a worldwide major public health concern especially in developed countries where they have a very high prevalence. RIP140 is a nuclear coregulator with a pivotal role in controlling lipid and glucose metabolism. Genetically manipulated mice devoid of RIP140 are lean with increased oxygen consumption and are resistant to high-fat diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis with improved insulin sensitivity. Moreover, white adipocytes with targeted disruption of RIP140 express genes characteristic of brown fat including CIDEA and UCP1 while skeletal muscles show a shift in fibre type composition enriched in more oxidative fibres. Thus, RIP140 is a potential therapeutic target in metabolic disorders. In this article we will review the role of RIP140 in tissues relevant to the appearance and progression of the metabolic syndrome and discuss how the manipulation of RIP140 levels or activity might represent a therapeutic approach to combat obesity and associated metabolic disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translating nuclear receptors from health to disease.

Perilipin overexpression in white adipose tissue induces a brown fat-like phenotype

BACKGROUND

Perilipin A (PeriA) exclusively locates on adipocyte lipid droplets and is essential for lipid storage and lipolysis. Previously, we reported that adipocyte specific overexpression of PeriA caused resistance to diet-induced obesity and resulted in improved insulin sensitivity. In order to better understand the biological basis for this observed phenotype, we performed additional studies in this transgenic mouse model.

METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

When compared to control animals, whole body energy expenditure was increased in the transgenic mice. Subsequently, we performed DNA microarray analysis and real-time PCR on white adipose tissue. Consistent with the metabolic chamber data, we observed increased expression of genes associated with fatty acid β-oxidation and heat production, and a decrease in the genes associated with lipid synthesis. Gene expression of Pgc1a, a regulator of fatty acid oxidation and Ucp1, a brown adipocyte specific protein, was increased in the white adipose tissue of the transgenic mice. This observation was subsequently verified by both Western blotting and histological examination. Expression of RIP140, a regulator of white adipocyte differentiation, and the lipid droplet protein FSP27 was decreased in the transgenic mice. Importantly, FSP27 has been shown to control gene expression of these crucial metabolic regulators. Overexpression of PeriA in 3T3-L1 adipocytes also reduced FSP27 expression and diminished lipid droplet size.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that overexpression of PeriA in white adipocytes reduces lipid droplet size by decreasing FSP27 expression and thereby inducing a brown adipose tissue-like phenotype. Our data suggest that modulation of lipid droplet proteins in white adipocytes is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of obesity and its related disorders.

Human fetal mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into brown and white adipocytes: a role for ERRalpha in human UCP1 expression

We investigated the ability of fetal mesenchymal stem cells (fMSCs) to differentiate into brown and white adipocytes and compared the expression of a number of marker genes and key regulatory factors. We showed that the expression of key adipocyte regulators and markers during differentiation is similar to that in other human and murine adipocyte models, including induction of PPARgamma2 and FABP4. Notably, we found that the preadipocyte marker, Pref-1, is induced early in differentiation and then declines markedly as the process continues, suggesting that fMSCs first acquire preadipocyte characteristics as they commit to the adipogenic lineage, prior to their differentiation into mature adipocytes. After adipogenic induction, some stem cell isolates differentiated into cells resembling brown adipocytes and others into white adipocytes. Detailed investigation of one isolate showed that the novel brown fat-determining factor PRDM16 is expressed both before and after differentiation. Importantly, these cells exhibited elevated basal UCP-1 expression, which was dependent on the activity of the orphan nuclear receptor ERRalpha, highlighting a novel role for ERRalpha in human brown fat. Thus fMSCs represent a useful in vitro model for human adipogenesis, and provide opportunities to study the stages prior to commitment to the adipocyte lineage. They also offer invaluable insights into the characteristics of human brown fat.

Cell based in vitro and ex vivo models in metabolic disease drug discovery: nice to have or critical path?

BACKGROUND

The use of cellular models as tools in drug discovery is almost universal. However, in disease areas such as metabolic diseases, are they relevant to the process and do they add value?

OBJECTIVE

In this article, we explore the variety of cellular models now used in drug discovery in metabolic diseases as revealed by publication. We have tried to make some connections between drug phenotypes in these models with clinical parallels. We also ask the question as to whether such models add value in the drug discovery process. This overview is not about recombinant cell systems used in target-based screening; rather, we focus on in vitro, including ex vivo, models as physiological systems in drug discovery in obesity and diabetes.

CONCLUSION

In terms of building target confidence, in vitro models are often the only mechanistic link to human systems early in a projects life. Many of the current targets in metabolic diseases in the early discovery phase are not yet clinically supported, let alone validated. In this respect, therefore, in vitro models warrant a place in the critical path in early discovery. In terms of any predictive role for decision-making today, this is much more difficult and is more likely pushed to a supporting role as part of a wider package. However, there is a rapid rate of advancement in this field and future developments hold much promise.

Depot-specific adipocyte cell lines reveal differential drug-induced responses of white adipocytes--relevance for partial lipodystrophy

Intra-abdominal (IA) fat functionally differs from subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue, likely contributing to its stronger association with obesity-induced morbidity and to differential response to medications. Drug-induced partial lipodystrophy, like in response to antiretroviral agents, is an extreme manifestation of the different response of different fat depots, with loss of SC but not IA. Investigating depot-specific adipocyte differences is limited by the low accessibility to IA fat and by the heterogenous cell population comprising adipose tissue. Here, we aimed at utilizing immortalized preadipocyte cell lines from IA (epididymal) or SC (inguinal) fat to investigate whether they differentially respond to the HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir. Preadipocytes were readily amenable to adipogenesis, as evidenced by lipid accumulation, expression of adipose-specific genes, measurable lipolysis, and insulin responsiveness. Leptin secretion was higher by the SC line, consistent with known differences between IA and SC fat. As previously reported, nelfinavir inhibited adipogenesis downstream of C/EBPbeta, but similarly in both cell lines. In contrast, nelfinavir's capacity to diminish insulin signaling, decrease leptin secretion, enhance basal lipolysis, and decrease expression of the lipid droplet-associated protein perilipin occurred more robustly and/or at lower nelfinavir concentrations in the SC line. This was despite similar intracellular concentrations of nelfinavir (23.8 +/- 5.6 and 33.6 +/- 12.2 microg/mg protein for inguinal and epididymal adipocytes, respectively, P = 0.46). The cell lines recapitulated depot-differential effects of nelfinavir observed in differentiated primary preadipocytes and with whole tissue explants. Thus, we report the use of fat depot-specific adipocyte cell lines for unraveling depot-differential responses to a drug causing partial lipodystrophy.

A functional interaction between RIP140 and PGC-1alpha regulates the expression of the lipid droplet protein CIDEA

Nuclear receptors activate or repress target genes depending on the recruitment of coactivators or corepressors. The corepressor RIP140 and the PPAR coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) both play key roles in the regulated transcription of genes involved in energy homeostasis. We investigated the roles of RIP140 and PGC-1alpha in controlling the expression of CIDEA, an important regulatory factor in adipose cell function and obesity. Ectopically expressed CIDEA surrounded lipid droplets in brown adipocytes and induced the formation of lipid droplets in nonadipogenic cell lines. The expression and promoter activity of CIDEA was repressed by RIP140 and induced by PGC-1alpha, mediated through the binding of estrogen-related receptor alpha and NRF-1 to their cognate binding sites. Importantly, we demonstrate that RIP140 interacts directly with PGC-1alpha and suppresses its activity. The direct antagonism of PGC-1alpha by RIP140 provides a mechanism for regulating target gene transcription via nuclear receptor-dependent and -independent pathways.