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Isolation of Adipogenic and Fibro-Inflammatory Stromal Cell Subpopulations from Murine Intra-Abdominal Adipose Depots
Published on: August 16, 2020
Intra-abdominal fat depots represent distinct immunomodulatory microenvironments: a murine model
Courtney A Cohen1, Amanda A Shea, C Lynn Heffron
1Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America.
Plos One
|June 19, 2013
Summary
Visceral fat depots have distinct immune cell profiles. Understanding these differences in omental, parametrial, and retroperitoneal fat is crucial for studying metabolic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Adipose Tissue Biology
Background:
- White adipose tissue (WAT) is an endocrine organ influencing metabolism and disease.
- Visceral WAT (V-WAT) is linked to metabolic disorders, but depots are often studied undifferentiated.
- Recent research suggests distinct physiological roles for different intra-abdominal V-WAT compartments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comparatively analyze leukocyte and progenitor populations within distinct visceral adipose tissue microenvironments.
- To investigate the immunomodulatory characteristics of peritoneal serous fluid (PSF), parametrial (pmWAT), retroperitoneal (rpWAT), and omental (omWAT) adipose tissue.
- To highlight the need for depot-specific evaluation of intra-abdominal fat pads.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry (FACS) analysis of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from four distinct adipose tissue depots in female C57BL/6 mice.
- Comparative characterization of CD45(+) leukocyte and progenitor cell populations.
- Analysis of gene expression profiles to correlate with SVF composition.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in SVF composition were observed across all four microenvironments.
- PSF SVF was predominantly leukocytes (>99%). Omental WAT had higher leukocyte content than pmWAT and rpWAT.
- Parametrial WAT was macrophage-rich, while retroperitoneal WAT resembled omental WAT with high B1 B-cell and monocyte populations. Omental WAT showed higher T-cell proportions.
Conclusions:
- Intra-abdominal fat pads represent independent immunomodulatory microenvironments.
- Depot-specific differences in immune cell composition and gene expression exist.
- Visceral fat depots should be evaluated as distinct entities in physiological and pathological studies.
