Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Measuring the Rate of Lipolysis in Ex Vivo Murine Adipose Tissue and Primary Preadipocytes Differentiated In Vitro
Published on: March 17, 2023
Galectin-3 stimulates preadipocyte proliferation and is up-regulated in growing adipose tissue
Kohji Kiwaki1, Colleen M Novak, Daniel K Hsu
1Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Objective:
Some cytokines and mediators of inflammation can alter adiposity through their effects on adipocyte number. To probe the molecular basis of obesity, this study determined whether galectin-3 was present in adipose tissue and investigated its effects on fat cell number.
Research Methods And Procedures:
In the first study, obesity-prone C57BL/6J mice were fed with high-fat (58%) diet. Epididymal fat pads were collected at Day 0, Day 60, and Day 120 after the start of high-fat feeding.
Results:
Levels of adipocyte galectin-3 protein, determined using Western blot analysis, increased as the mice became obese. Galectin-3 mRNA and protein were then detected in human adipose tissue, primarily in the preadipocyte fraction. It was found that recombinant human galectin-3 stimulated proliferation of primary cultured preadipocytes as well as DNA synthesis through lectin-carbohydrate interaction.
Discussion:
Galectin-3, which has been known to play a versatile role especially in immune cells, might play a role also in adipose tissue and be associated with the pathophysiology of obesity.
More Related Videos
08:28Expansion and Adipogenesis Induction of Adipocyte Progenitors from Perivascular Adipose Tissue Isolated by Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting
Published on: June 30, 2017
09:20An Adipocyte Cell Culture Model to Study the Impact of Protein and Micro-RNA Modulation on Adipocyte Function
Published on: May 4, 2021
Related Concept Videos
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
Cellular Adaptation III: Hyperplasia
Cell Specific Gene Expression