Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis
Published on: June 3, 2016
Apoptosis-inducing factor is a target gene of C/EBPα and participates in adipocyte differentiation
Shao-Ming Shen1, Yun Yu, Zhao-Xia Wu
1Institute of Health Science, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Besides the contribution in cell death, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) also exerts roles in other cellular activities, which are largely unknown. The CCAAT-enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) is required for differentiation of adipocytes and granulocytes. Here we report that, during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, AIF expression is robustly upregulated via transcriptional regulation by C/EBPα. The upregulated effect is also confirmed by knockdown and ectopic expression of C/EBPα in U937 and MCF-7 cells respectively with and without endogenous expression of C/EBPα protein. We also reveal that AIF knockdown attenuates 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, presumably due to the mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency. These results provide evidence for the role of AIF in adipocyte differentiation.
Related Concept Videos
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Apoptosis
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Caspases
