title: Modulation of adipocyte differentiation by tumor necrosis factor and transforming growth factor beta.
abstract: Cultured TA1 adipocytes treated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) lose intracytoplasmic lipid and, over a period of days, come to resemble their predifferentiated progenitors (preadipocytes). To examine the extent to which this phenotypic reversion represents a return to a less differentiated cell, we examined three major characteristics that distinguish preadipocytes from adipocytes: (a) pattern of gene expression; (b) hormonal requirement for accelerated adipogenesis; and (c) pattern of protein synthesis. We found that within hours of TNF addition to adipocytes, mRNAs for genes whose expression is augmented during adipogenesis decreased to predifferentiated levels; in addition, like preadipocytes, TNF-treated adipocytes required exposure to hormones to accelerate adipogenesis. Further, the pattern of protein synthesis seen on polyacrylamide gels reverted to that seen before differentiation. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) also caused a rapid decrease in expression of adipose genes when added to fully differentiated cells, an effect that was achieved by treatment with either TGF-beta 1 or TGF-beta 2. These effects were seen in the absence of a demonstrable proliferative response to either TNF or TGF-beta. Thus characteristics that define the "terminally" differentiated state in adipocytes are subject to modulation by environmental influences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Larrick
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ringold
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007213:Indomethacin