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Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Differentiation and Imaging of Brown Adipocytes from the Stromal Vascular Fraction of Interscapular Adipose Tissue from Newborn Mice
Published on: February 3, 2023
Osteopontin-induced brown adipogenesis from white preadipocytes through a PI3K-AKT dependent signaling
Xiao-Juan Zhong1, Xiao-Dan Shen1, Jian-Bing Wen1
1Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China.
Abstract:
Recent studies have shown that OPN (osteopontin) plays critical roles in cell survival, differentiation, bio-mineralization, cancer and cardiovascular remodeling. However, its roles in the differentiation of brown adipocytes and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the roles of OPN in the brown adipogenesis and the underlying mechanisms. It was shown that the OPN successfully induced the differentiation of 3T3-L1 white preadipocytes into the PRDM16(+) (PRD1-BF1-RIZ1 homologous domain containing 16) and UCP-1(+) (uncoupling protein-1) brown adipocytes in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Also, activation of PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)-AKT pathway was required for the OPN-induced brown adipogenesis. The findings suggest OPN plays an important role in promoting the differentiation of the brown adipocytes and might provide a potential novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of obesity and related disorders.
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