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Updated: Aug 4, 2026
Isolation of Rat Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Differentiation into Insulin-producing Cells
Published on: August 29, 2022
Infant Mesenchymal Stem Cell Insulin Action Is Associated With Maternal Plasma Free Fatty Acids, Independent of
Alec B Chaves1,2, Donghai Zheng1,2, Jonathan A Johnson1,2
1Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
Insights
Maternal obesity during pregnancy may not directly impact infant insulin action, but higher maternal lipids and cord leptin levels are linked to increased insulin sensitivity in newborns. This suggests altered growth and lipid storage pathways.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Maternal obesity is linked to offspring insulin resistance in animal models.
- Translating these findings to human intrauterine effects remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the intrauterine environment on infant insulin action in humans.
- To explore the relationship between maternal metabolic factors and infant mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) insulin sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Isolated MSCs from umbilical cord tissue of infants born to mothers with normal weight or obesity.
- Assessed insulin-stimulated glycogen storage in MSCs during in vitro myogenesis.
- Measured maternal free fatty acid (FFA) concentration, cord leptin, and intracellular triglyceride content.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in insulin action was observed based solely on maternal obesity status.
- Maternal FFA concentration, cord leptin, and intracellular triglyceride content positively correlated with insulin action.
- MSCs from infants of mothers with elevated FFAs showed increased mTOR signaling pathway activation.
Conclusions:
- Elevated maternal lipid availability, not maternal obesity per se, is associated with enhanced insulin action in infant MSCs.
- These findings suggest potential upregulation of growth and lipid storage pathways in infants exposed to maternal overnutrition.
Abstract:
Preclinical rodent and nonhuman primate models investigating maternal obesity have highlighted the importance of the intrauterine environment in the development of insulin resistance in offspring; however, it remains unclear if these findings can be translated to humans. To investigate possible intrauterine effects in humans, we isolated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the umbilical cord tissue of infants born to mothers of normal weight or mothers with obesity. Insulin-stimulated glycogen storage was determined in MSCs undergoing myogenesis in vitro. There was no difference in insulin action based on maternal obesity. However, maternal free fatty acid (FFA) concentration, cord leptin, and intracellular triglyceride content were positively correlated with insulin action. Furthermore, MSCs from offspring born to mothers with elevated FFAs displayed elevated activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that infants born to mothers with elevated lipid availability have greater insulin action in MSCs, which may indicate upregulation of growth and lipid storage pathways during periods of maternal overnutrition.
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