In vitro and ex vivo models of adipocytes.

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)

Adipocytes are specialized cells with pleiotropic roles in physiology and pathology. Several types of fat cells with distinct metabolic properties coexist in various anatomically defined fat depots in mammals. White, beige, and brown adipocytes differ in their handling of lipids and thermogenic capacity, promoting differences in size and morphology. Moreover, adipocytes release lipids and proteins with paracrine and endocrine functions. The intrinsic properties of adipocytes pose specific challenges in culture. Mature adipocytes float in suspension culture due to high triacylglycerol content and are fragile. Moreover, a fully differentiated state, notably acquirement of the unilocular lipid droplet of white adipocyte, has so far not been reached in two-dimensional culture. Cultures of mouse and human-differentiated preadipocyte cell lines and primary cells have been established to mimic white, beige, and brown adipocytes. Here, we survey various models of differentiated preadipocyte cells and primary mature adipocyte survival describing main characteristics, culture conditions, advantages, and limitations. An important development is the advent of three-dimensional culture, notably of adipose spheroids that recapitulate in vivo adipocyte function and morphology in fat depots. Challenges for the future include isolation and culture of adipose-derived stem cells from different an

Evidence level

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

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