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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

A Human 3D Extracellular Matrix-Adipocyte Culture Model for Studying Matrix-Cell Metabolic Crosstalk
Published on: November 7, 2019
Extracellular matrix with the rigidity of adipose tissue helps 3T3-L1 adipocytes maintain insulin responsiveness
Qinkai Li1, Toshio Hosaka, Bayasglan Jambaldorj
1Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Abstract:
Despite the popularity of 3T3-L1 adipocytes as a model system of adipocytes in vivo, they do not carry all of the cellular functions of adipocytes in vivo. In this study, we investigated the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity on insulin signal transduction in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. On 250 Pa polyacrylamide gel (soft gel) laminated with a mixture of collagen type 1 and fibronectin, whose rigidity matches that of adipose tissue, expression of the insulin receptor, IRS-1 and AKT was upregulated and their insulin-stimulated phosphorylation was enhanced. Furthermore, the expression of GLUT1 was downregulated, whereas the expression of GLUT4 was unaffected as ECM rigidity decreased. Insulin-stimulated GLUT4 recruitment to the plasma membrane was significantly enhanced in cells seeded on soft gel. These results suggest that adjusting the ECM rigidity to that of adipose tissue augments insulin signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and enhances insulin-stimulated GLUT4 recruitment to the plasma membrane.
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