title: Functional differences in visceral and subcutaneous fat pads originate from differences in the adipose stem cell.
abstract: Metabolic pathologies mainly originate from adipose tissue (AT) dysfunctions. AT differences are associated with fat-depot anatomic distribution in subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral omental (VAT) pads. We address the question whether the functional differences between the two compartments may be present early in the adipose stem cell (ASC) instead of being restricted to the mature adipocytes. Using a specific human ASC model, we evaluated proliferation/differentiation of ASC from abdominal SAT-(S-ASC) and VAT-(V-ASC) paired biopsies in parallel as well as the electrophysiological properties and functional activity of ASC and their in vitro-derived adipocytes. A dramatic difference in proliferation and adipogenic potential was observed between the two ASC populations, S-ASC having a growth rate and adipogenic potential significantly higher than V-ASC and giving rise to more functional and better organized adipocytes. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive electrophysiological analysis of ASC and derived-adipocytes, showing electrophysiological properties, such as membrane potential, capacitance and K(+)-current parameters which confirm the better functionality of S-ASC and their derived adipocytes. We document the greater ability of S-ASC-derived adipocytes to secrete adiponectin and their reduced susceptibility to lipolysis. These features may account for the metabolic differences observed between the SAT and VAT. Our findings suggest that VAT and SAT functional differences originate at the level of the adult ASC which maintains a memory of its fat pad of origin. Such stem cell differences may account for differential adipose depot susceptibility to the development of metabolic dysfunction and may represent a suitable target for specific therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baglioni
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantini
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francalanci
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Squecco
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Franco
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borgogni
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frontera
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nesi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liotta
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucchese
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perigli
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francini
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serio
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luconi
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D011188:Potassium