Critical role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase cascade in adipogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells capable of differentiating into adipocytes in the presence of a hormone cocktail. These cells thus provide a promising model for studying the early events of adipogenesis. Here, we examine the involvement of the PI3K/Akt and mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathways in human MSC adipogenesis. We found that the two pathways were strongly activated with a similar temporal profile under the adipogenesis-inducing hormone cocktail and this activation could be blocked by LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K. Furthermore, rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mTOR, blocked the activation of mTOR/p70S6K but not PI3K/Akt. Both LY294002 and rapamycin severely suppressed lipid accumulation, as well as the expression of adipogenic markers, including PPAR gamma 2 and C/EBP alpha, two master adipogenic transcription factors. Together, these data indicate that the mTOR/p70S6K pathway acts downstream of the PI3K/Akt pathway in mediating the adipogenic conversion of MSCs. In conclusion, our data suggest that the PI3K/Akt and mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathways are essential for adipogenesis of human MSCs.
Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China.
Weihua
W
Yu
Zhenguang
Z
Chen
Jinli
J
Zhang
Lirong
L
Zhang
Hui
H
Ke
Lihua
L
Huang
Yanwen
Y
Peng
Xiuming
X
Zhang
Shunong
S
Li
Bruce T
BT
Lahn
Andy Peng
AP
Xiang
D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011494:Protein Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; C546842:MTOR protein, human