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Expression of the Adipocyte Progenitor Markers MSCA1 and CD36 is Associated With Adipose Tissue Function in Children
Martha Hanschkow1, Nathalie Boulet2, Elena Kempf1
1University of Leipzig, Medical Faculty, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig (CPL), Leipzig, Germany.
Insights
Mesenchymal stem cell antigen 1 (MSCA1) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) are linked to childhood obesity. MSCA1 correlates with adipose tissue dysfunction, while CD36 predicts adipogenic potential in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Adipose Tissue Biology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Mesenchymal stem cell antigen 1 (MSCA1) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) are novel adipocyte progenitor markers in adults.
- Obesity in children is associated with adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, making pediatric studies crucial for understanding AT biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate MSCA1 and CD36 expression in children's adipocytes and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells.
- Analyze the relationship between MSCA1/CD36 expression and AT accumulation, obesity, and related diseases in children.
- Examine the in vitro correlation of MSCA1/CD36 expression with adipose progenitor capacities.
Main Methods:
- Studied MSCA1 and CD36 expression in adipocytes and SVF cells from 133 children.
- Analyzed AT accumulation and biology in relation to MSCA1/CD36 expression.
- Assessed adipose progenitor capacities (proliferation, differentiation, mitochondrial function) in vitro.
Main Results:
- MSCA1 and CD36 exhibit differential expression in children's adipocytes and SVF cells.
- MSCA1 expression positively correlates with obesity-associated AT dysfunction and increased mitochondrial respiration.
- CD36 expression is downregulated in overweight/obese children and positively associated with SVF cell differentiation capacity.
Conclusions:
- MSCA1 and CD36 are associated with obesity-related alterations in children's AT.
- CD36 expression predicts adipogenic potential, suggesting a role in regulating adipocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy during childhood obesity development.
Context:
MSCA1 (mesenchymal stem cell antigen 1) and CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36) have been described as novel adipocyte progenitor markers in adults with a potential relevance for obesity and adipocyte progenitor function.
Objective:
With the early manifestation of obesity in children and formation of adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, children provide the opportunity to characterize the function of MSCA1 and CD36 during physiological AT accumulation and with obesity and related disease.
Methods:
We investigated MSCA1 and CD36 expression in adipocytes and stroma vascular fraction (SVF) cells from 133 children of the Leipzig AT Childhood cohort with regard to AT accumulation and biology. In a subsample we analyzed how MSCA1 and CD36 expression is related to adipose progenitor capacities in vitro (ie, proliferation, differentiation and mitochondrial function).
Results:
Both MSCA1 and CD36 are differentially expressed in adipocytes and SVF cells of children. MSCA1 expression is positively correlated to obesity-associated AT dysfunction (ie, adipocyte hypertrophy and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), and high SVF MSCA1 expression is associated with increased mitochondrial respiration in vitro. CD36 expression is not associated with AT dysfunction but SVF CD36 expression is downregulated in children with overweight and obesity and shows a positive association with the differentiation capacity of SVF cells ex vivo and in vitro.
Conclusion:
Both MSCA1 and CD36 are associated with obesity-related alterations in AT of children. In particular, CD36 expression predicts adipogenic potential of SVF cells, indicating a potential role in the regulation of adipocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy with obesity development in children.
