Transient overexpression of Pparγ2 and C/ebpα in mesenchymal stem cells induces brown adipose tissue formation.

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)

Brown adipose tissue plays a pivotal role in mammal metabolism and thermogenesis. It has a great therapeutic potential in several metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are suitable candidates for brown adipose tissue formation de novo. Pparγ2 and C/ebpα are nucleic receptors known to mediate adipogenic differentiation. We hypothesized that overexpression of the Pparγ2 and C/ebpα genes in MSCs would lead to the formation of adipose tissue. MSCs bearing the Luc reporter gene were transfected to overexpress Pparγ2 and C/ebpα. Differentiation of nucleofected cells was evaluated in vitro and in vivo following ectopic implantation of the cells in C3H/HeN mice. After implantation, the engineered cells survived for 5 weeks and brown adipose-like tissue was observed in histological samples. Immunostaining and bioluminescent imaging showed new adipocytes expressing Luc and the brown adipose tissue marker, UCP1, in vitro and in vivo. We show that gene delivery of transcription factors into MSCs generates brown adipose tissue in vitro and in vivo.

Evidence level

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

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