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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis
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The transcription factor SOX6 contributes to the developmental origins of obesity by promoting adipogenesis

Shi Chi Leow1, Jeremie Poschmann2, Peh Gek Too1

  • 1Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, Singapore 117609.

Development (Cambridge, England)
|February 20, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Growth restriction in fetuses may lead to obesity due to the transcription factor SOX6. SOX6 promotes fat cell development by influencing key regulators and epigenetic factors.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

  • Fetal growth restriction is linked to later obesity.
  • Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer a model to study developmental impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Identify molecular mechanisms linking fetal growth restriction to adipogenesis.
  • Investigate the role of transcription factor SOX6 in this process.

Main Methods:

  • Differentiated adipocytes from umbilical cord-derived MSCs of normal and growth-restricted neonates.
  • Analyzed SOX6 expression, adipogenic regulator activity, and WNT/β-catenin signaling.
  • Examined MEST gene regulatory regions for methylation and SOX6 binding.

Main Results:

  • SOX6 was highly expressed in adipocytes from growth-restricted neonates.
  • SOX6 activated key adipogenic regulators (PPARγ, C/EBPα, MEST) and inhibited WNT/β-catenin signaling.
  • Hypomethylated CpGs near SOX6 binding sites in the MEST gene were observed in growth-restricted subjects.

Conclusions:

  • SOX6 is a novel regulator of adipogenesis, promoting fat cell differentiation.
  • SOX6's function is modulated by epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation.
  • These findings elucidate a pathway from fetal growth restriction to obesity.

Keywords:
Developmental originsEpigeneticsFetal growth restrictionHumanMesenchymal stem cellsMouseObesityTranscription factorZebrafish

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