White fat progenitor cells reside in the adipose vasculature

W Tang, D Zeve, JM Suh, D Bosnakovski, M Kyba… - Science, 2008 - science.org
W Tang, D Zeve, JM Suh, D Bosnakovski, M Kyba, RE Hammer, MD Tallquist, JM Graff
Science, 2008science.org
White adipose (fat) tissues regulate metabolism, reproduction, and life span. Adipocytes
form throughout life, with the most marked expansion of the lineage occurring during the
postnatal period. Adipocytes develop in coordination with the vasculature, but the identity
and location of white adipocyte progenitor cells in vivo are unknown. We used genetically
marked mice to isolate proliferating and renewing adipogenic progenitors. We found that
most adipocytes descend from a pool of these proliferating progenitors that are already …
White adipose (fat) tissues regulate metabolism, reproduction, and life span. Adipocytes form throughout life, with the most marked expansion of the lineage occurring during the postnatal period. Adipocytes develop in coordination with the vasculature, but the identity and location of white adipocyte progenitor cells in vivo are unknown. We used genetically marked mice to isolate proliferating and renewing adipogenic progenitors. We found that most adipocytes descend from a pool of these proliferating progenitors that are already committed, either prenatally or early in postnatal life. These progenitors reside in the mural cell compartment of the adipose vasculature, but not in the vasculature of other tissues. Thus, the adipose vasculature appears to function as a progenitor niche and may provide signals for adipocyte development.
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