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Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis
Published on: June 3, 2016
Oil Droplet in Apoptotic Uniocular Adipocyte: A Double-Edged Sword in Determining Macrophage Phenotype and its
Chen Lei1,2, Songyu Wang3, Tao Huang1,2
1Department of Plastic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Fat grafting procedure is increasingly popular. However, unstable retention rate hindered its further application. Research primarily focuses on the revascularization of grafted fat.
Methods:
The membrane mature adipocyte aggregate cultures method was used to culture uniocular adipocytes in vitro. Staurosporine was used to induce apoptosis in uniocular adipocytes, multi-ocular adipocytes, and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). The apoptotic uniocular adipocytes were examined by scanning electron microscopy, and methanol was used to stimulate fusion of apoptotic adipocytes. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting were used to identify macrophage phenotypes after co-culture with apoptotic uniocular adipocytes and fused oil droplets.
Results:
Uniocular adipocytes maintained their morphology even after apoptosis induction, while multi-ocular adipocytes and ASCs cracked and released cellular components. Methanol induced fusion of apoptotic uniocular adipocytes, and the fused large oil droplets attracted multiple cell debris, as indicated by DAPI/PI staining. Co-culture with apoptotic uniocular adipocytes induced the M2 polarization, whereas co-culture with fused oil droplets induced M1 polarization.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated that the surface tension of uniocular adipocytes preserves basic cellular morphology and promotes M2 polarization. In contrast, in unstable culture environment (e.g., methanol exposure), surface tension causes fusion of apoptotic adipocytes, leading to M1 polarization. These findings provide new insights into the morphological changes of apoptotic adipocytes during fat grafting, which could potentially influence the outcome of fat grafting.
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