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Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis
Published on: June 3, 2016
Wnt4 and Wnt5a promote adipocyte differentiation
Makoto Nishizuka1, Akiko Koyanagi, Shigehiro Osada
1Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8603, Japan.
Abstract:
The roles of the non-canonical Wnt pathway during adipogenesis are not well known, though Wnt10b is known to function as a negative regulator for adipogenesis by activating the canonical Wnt pathway. We focused on the roles of Wnt4, Wnt5a and Wnt6, which are thought to be part of the non-canonical Wnt pathway. The expression of these genes changed dramatically at the initial stage of adipogenesis. Furthermore, the inhibition of Wnt4 or Wnt5a expression prevented the accumulation of triacylglycerol and decreased the expression of adipogenesis-related genes. Wnt4 and Wnt5a have crucial roles in adipogenesis as positive regulators.
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