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Adipogenesis of ear mesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs): adipose biomarker-based assessment of genetic variation, adipocyte function, and brown/brite differentiation

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Abstract

Ear mesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs) have been investigated to differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and muscle cells in vitro. However, the factors controlling adipogenesis of this stem cell population in vitro, function, and type of adipocytes raised from them are still unclear. Here we found that genetics have a modest effect on adipogenic capacity of EMSCs. Adipocytes differentiated from EMSCs have a potential function in lipid metabolism as indicated by expression of lipogenic genes and this function of EMSC adipocytes is regulated by genetics. EMSCs failed to be differentiated into brite/brown adipocytes due to their lack of a thermogenic program, but adipocytes raised from EMSCs showed a fate of white adipocytes. Overall, our data suggest that EMSCs differentiate into functional white adipocytes in vitro and this is genetic-dependent.

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Acknowledgements

This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 106.02-2019.314. Dinh Toi Chu was a PhD student at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland (2012–2015), and a Postdoc and Researcher at the Center for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (2015–2018). DTC’s works in Norway were supported by the SCIENTIA FELLOWS program co-funded by Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo and the EU Seventh Framework Program (FP7) Marie S. Curie scheme—People: Co-funding of Regional, National and International Programs (COFUND), grant number 609020. And D.T.C’s works in Poland were supported by the Foundation for Polish Science, program WELCOME, no. WELCOME/2010-4/3 entitled “Nutrition and ambient temperature during early development can reduce susceptibility to obesity” financed by EU Structural Funds in Poland within the Innovative Economy Program and REFRESH project (FP7-REGPOT-2010-1-264103). We would like to thank Prof. Barbara Gawronska-Kozak (Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland) for critical reading and helpful comments to improve this manuscript before submitting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Dinh-Toi Chu & Hue Vu Thi

  2. Department of Anatomy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Dang Tien Truong

  3. Faculty of Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Nguyen Thi Lan Huong

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  1. Dinh-Toi Chu
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  2. Dang Tien Truong
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  3. Hue Vu Thi
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  4. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong
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DTC designed this study. DTC, DTT, VTN, and NTLH performed the experiments and analyzed the data. DTC, DTT, and VTH drafted the paper. DTC, NTLH, and VTH participated in animal manipulation, data collection, and analysis. DTC and DTT supervised this study and reviewed this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dinh-Toi Chu.

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Chu, DT., Truong, D.T., Thi, H.V. et al. Adipogenesis of ear mesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs): adipose biomarker-based assessment of genetic variation, adipocyte function, and brown/brite differentiation. Mol Cell Biochem 477, 1053–1063 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-021-04350-8

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