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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Mouse Adipose Tissue Collection and Processing for RNA Analysis
Published on: January 31, 2018
Single-cell analysis integrated with RNA-Sequencing uncovers new action of Patchoulol on adipose tissue remodeling in
Siqi Qin1, Maozhu Luo1, Songtao Liu1
1Key Laboratory of Standardization of Chinese Medicine (Ministry of Education), Lab for Innovation & Effective Uses of Chinese Drug Germplasm Resources, State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Background:
Patchoulol (PAT) is the key bioactive component from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth., a well-known botanical medicine for gastrointestinal diseases. However, the action of PAT on adipose tissue remodeling in obesity remains unknown.
Hypothesis/Purpose:
In this study, cellular contribution to adipose tissue remodeling at single-cell and the action of PAT were explored.
Study Design/Methods:
Single-cell transcriptional analysis was performed on visceral adipose tissue from lean and obese mice. Obese mouse model was conducted, TNF-α induced mature adipocytes was utilized, and the co-culture system of adipocytes and macrophages was used to assess the action of PAT. RNA-sequencing, cellular thermal shift assay and specific inhibitor EX527 was utilized to estimate the mechanism of PAT.
Results:
Single-cell analysis revealed the adipocytes served as the initiator that aggravated inflammatory response and associated fibrosis, and RNA-sequencing found PAT recovered aberrant changes of genes in mature adipocytes, especially those related to inflammatory response and NAD+ dependent protein deacetylase activity. In obese mice, PAT mitigated insulin resistance and adipose tissue remodeling by promoting deacetylase SIRT1 with inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB signals, manifested as reduction of macrophage infiltration, decline of pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization and abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix. Moreover, PAT alleviates inflammatory responses in mature adipocytes and suppressed macrophage migration towards inflammatory adipocytes by activating SIRT1, which were abolished by the specific inhibitor EX527.
Conclusion:
Current findings provide a novel understanding of adipose tissue remodeling at single-cell level, and SIRT1 might be a critical pharmacological target of PAT that contributes to treat obesity and metabolic diseases.
