Journal of Cell Science & Therapy
Open Access
ISSN: 2157-7013
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2157-7013
+44 1300 500008
Christian Dani
Accepted Abstracts: J Cell Sci Ther
I dentification of molecular mechanisms involved in generation of different types of adipocytes is progressing substantially in mice. However, much less is known regarding characterization of brown and white adipocyte progenitors (APs) in humans, highlighting the need for an in vitro model of human adipocyte development. Here we report a procedure to selectively derive brown and white APs from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Molecular characterization of APs of both phenotypes revealed that BMP4, Hox8, Hoxc9 and HoxA5 genes were specifically expressed in white APs, whereas expression of PRDM16 , Dio2 and Pax3 marked brown APs. We focused on Pax3 and we showed that expression of this transcription factor was enriched in human perirenal white adipose tissue samples expressing UCP1 and in human classical brown fat. Finally, functional experiments indicated that Pax3 was a critical player of human AP fate as its ectopic expression led to convert white APs into brown-like APs. Together, these data support a model in which Pax3 is a new marker of human brown APs and a molecular mediator of their fate. The findings of the present study could lead to new anti-obesity therapies based on the recruitment of APs and constitute a platform for investigating in vitro developmental origins of human white and brown adipocytes.
Christian Dani completed his PhD in Molecular Biology in Montpellier University. Then, he conducted a 2-year program research on the biology of embryonic stem cells in Pr. A. Smith?s laboratory (Edindurgh, Scotland). He is now Director of research at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and the Director the ?Stem Cells and Differentiation? laboratory at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis. He is member of the editorial board of Stem Cells and of American Journal of Stem Cells journals