Integrative single-cell analysis of metabolic syndrome reveals novel cellular heterogeneity and differentiation dynamics in adipose tissue

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia with adipose tissue inflammation, yet its cellular heterogeneity and intercellular interactions remain poorly understood. We analyzed single-nucleus RNA sequencing data from subcutaneous adipose tissue of 84 individuals with MetS from the METSIM cohort, characterizing cell composition, inter-individual variation, adipocyte progenitor differentiation, and cell-cell communication networks. Methods We performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing on subcutaneous adipose tissue samples from 84 individuals with MetS. Clustering analysis was used to define cell types and subpopulations, inter-individual variation in cell composition was assessed, pseudotime trajectory analysis reconstructed adipocyte precursor differentiation pathways, and ligand-receptor interaction analysis mapped intercellular communication networks. Results We identified 12 distinct cell types in MetS adipose tissue and discovered two patient subgroups with differential enrichment of adipocytes/progenitors versus immune cells, suggesting subtypes of MetS with distinct adipose profiles. Pseudotime analysis revealed two adipocyte progenitor subpopulations with altered differentiation trajectories. Cell-cell communication analysis identified WNT signaling from progenitors to adipocytes as a potential differentiation driv

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.