Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
08:28
Expansion and Adipogenesis Induction of Adipocyte Progenitors from Perivascular Adipose Tissue Isolated by Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting
Published on: June 30, 2017
Characterization of Adipocyte Precursor Cells (APCs) by Lineage Tracing, Flow Cytometry, and Cytometry Time of Flight
Qiwei Zhang1,2, Nathaniel Vo1,2, Ju Hee Lee1,2
1Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|May 20, 2026
Summary
This study details methods for identifying and purifying adipocyte precursor cells (APCs) using advanced flow cytometry and cell sorting techniques. These methods aid in understanding adipose tissue development and cell plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Adipose tissue development and homeostasis rely on understanding adipocyte precursor cell (APC) populations.
- Current methods require precise identification and isolation of these critical cell types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe advanced flow cytometry and cell sorting techniques for APC identification and purification.
- To outline methods for characterizing APC origin and plasticity using mouse models and tissue visualization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for immuno-phenotyping and isolation of APCs.
- Employed cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) for high-dimensional analysis of APC surface markers.
- Developed whole adipose tissue visualization techniques for cellular origin studies.
Main Results:
- Successfully identified and purified distinct APC populations based on established surface marker profiles.
- Established protocols for APC characterization using multiple advanced cytometry techniques.
- Enabled future studies on APC plasticity and developmental origins.
Conclusions:
- Advanced flow cytometry, FACS, and CyTOF are powerful tools for APC research.
- The described methods facilitate a deeper understanding of adipose tissue biology.
- This work provides a foundation for investigating APC lineage and function.
