Initial differences in lipid processing leading to pig-and beef-derived mature adipocyte differentiation

Authors: CHEN, JIE - Nanjing Agricultural University; GURIDI, MAITEA - University Of Alberta; FERNYHOUGH, MELINDA - Washington State University; JIAN, ZHIHUA - Washington State University; GUAN, LELUO - University Of Alberta; Hausman, Gary; DODSON, MICHAEL - Washington State University

Submitted to: Basic and Applied Myology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2009
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Mature fat cells from cattle and pigs may resume cell division and add to the population of fat cell fibroblasts or form other cell types. Cultures of mature pig-derived fat cells can reestablish their ability to divide. This culture system will aid in our understanding of several aspects of mature pig-derived fat cells.

Technical Abstract: Clonal cultures of pig-derived mature adipocytes are capable of dedifferentiating and forming proliferative-competent progeny cells in vitro. Initial lipid processing, is different to that observed in cultures of beef-derived adipocytes. Mature pig adipocytes extrude lipid before proliferation, whereas beef-derived adipocytes symmetrically, or asymmetrically, divide without expelling lipid. These observations suggest that dedifferentiation of mature adipocytes relies on species-specific mechanisms, or that different culture conditions are required for pig-derived adipocytes to dedifferentiate in a manner similar to beef adipocytes. This in vitro system will aid in our understanding of lipid metabolism, regulation of single cells, processes involved in dedifferentiation of cells, and/or characteristics of putative stem cells residing in adipose tissue.