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Identification and Dissection of Diverse Mouse Adipose Depots
Published on: July 11, 2019
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A stringent validation of mouse adipose tissue identity markers.
Jasper M A de Jong1, Ola Larsson2, Barbara Cannon1
1Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; and.
American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism
|April 23, 2015
Summary
Identifying the precise type of human brown adipose tissue (BAT) is crucial for obesity and diabetes treatments. This study validates specific gene markers (Zic1, Cd137, Epsti1, Tbx1, Tmem26, Tcf21) for accurate adipose tissue classification.
Area of Science:
- Adipose tissue biology
- Molecular genetics
- Metabolic disease research
Background:
- The classification of human brown adipose tissue (BAT) as classical brown or brite/beige is debated.
- Distinct developmental origins and functions necessitate accurate identification for therapeutic applications in obesity and type 2 diabetes.
- Existing gene markers for tissue identification lack validated efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the informative value of proposed gene markers for classifying brown, brite/beige, and white adipose tissues.
- To identify reliable markers for distinguishing human adipose depot identities.
- To investigate the relationship between gene expression patterns, anatomic localization, and adipose tissue identity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized established mouse adipose tissues (interscapular brown, inguinal brite, epididymal white) and primary cell cultures as validators.
- Examined the expression of proposed marker genes across different adipose tissue types.
- Employed principal component analysis (PCA) to support gene expression findings.
- Analyzed anteroposterior expression patterns of validated markers.
Main Results:
- Most previously suggested markers (Car4, Cited1, Ebf3, Eva1, Fbxo31, Fgf21, Lhx8, Hoxc8, Hoxc9) were noninformative for tissue classification.
- Only Zic1 (brown), Cd137, Epsti1, Tbx1, Tmem26 (brite), and Tcf21 (white) proved informative.
- Brite marker expression was not sustained in cell culture.
- Validated markers revealed new insights into adipose depot identity across various depots.
- Anteroposterior expression patterns were observed for Zic1, Hoxc8, Hoxc9, and Tcf21.
Conclusions:
- Re-evaluation of adipose depot identity in mice and humans is necessary based on validated marker gene expression.
- Specific genes (Zic1, Cd137, Epsti1, Tbx1, Tmem26, Tcf21) are reliable for distinguishing brown, brite, and white adipose tissues.
- Anatomic localization correlates with adipose tissue identity and potentially function, as indicated by marker gene expression patterns.
