Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
06:08
Semi-Automated Isolation of the Stromal Vascular Fraction from Murine White Adipose Tissue Using a Tissue Dissociator
Published on: May 19, 2023
Committed subcutaneous preadipocytes are reduced in human obesity
Y Tchoukalova1, C Koutsari, M Jensen
1Endocrine Research Unit, 5-194 Joseph, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Diabetologia
|November 11, 2006
Summary
Obesity reduces the number of committed preadipocytes in subcutaneous fat. This reduction may stem from increased adipocyte recruitment or preadipocyte death, influenced by body fat distribution.
Area of Science:
- Adipose tissue biology
- Obesity research
- Cellular and molecular biology
Background:
- Subcutaneous adipose tissue plays a crucial role in energy homeostasis and metabolic health.
- Obesity is characterized by altered adipose tissue cellularity and function.
- Body fat distribution, such as upper-body-obese (UBO) versus lower-body-obese (LBO) phenotypes, may influence adipose tissue characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the availability of committed preadipocytes in abdominal and femoral subcutaneous adipose tissue differs between lean individuals, UBO women, and LBO women.
- To explore the potential impact of obesity and body fat distribution on preadipocyte kinetics (proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving lean, UBO, and LBO women.
- Measurement of body composition, fat cell size, committed preadipocytes, and macrophages in abdominal and femoral subcutaneous adipose depots.
- Identification of preadipocytes (aP2) and macrophages (CD68) via simultaneous staining.
- Assessment of preadipocyte proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in a subset of samples.
Main Results:
- Obese women exhibited smaller abdominal adipocytes compared to lean women.
- The proportion of committed preadipocytes within stromovascular cells was significantly lower in obese women (both UBO and LBO) compared to lean women.
- Preliminary data indicated that preadipocyte kinetics differed between obesity phenotypes: UBO women showed reduced differentiation and increased apoptosis susceptibility.
- Macrophage proportion in stromovascular cells was higher in obese women, though not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is associated with a reduced proportion of committed preadipocytes in subcutaneous adipose tissue.
- The observed decrease in preadipocytes may be attributed to increased recruitment into adipogenesis or enhanced preadipocyte apoptosis, varying with obesity phenotype.
- These findings support the hypothesis that adipogenesis regulation, potentially influenced by body fat distribution, plays a role in metabolic health.
