Characterization of DLK1(PREF1)+/CD34+ cells in vascular stroma of human white adipose tissue.
Sorting of native (unpermeabilized) SVF-cells from human subcutaneous (s)WAT for cell surface staining (cs) of DLK1 and CD34 identified three main populations: ~10% stained cs-DLK1+/cs-CD34-, ~20% cs-DLK1+/cs-CD34+dim and ~45% cs-DLK1-/cs-CD34+. FACS analysis after permeabilization showed that all these cells stained positive for intracellular DLK1, while CD34 was undetectable in cs-DLK1+/cs-CD34- cells. Permeabilized cs-DLK1-/cs-CD34+ cells were positive for the pericyte marker α-SMA and the mesenchymal markers CD90 and CD105, albeit CD105 staining was dim (cs-DLK1-/cs-CD34+/CD90+/CD105+dim/α-SMA+/CD45-/CD31-). Only these cells showed proliferative and adipogenic capacity. Cs-DLK1+/cs-CD34- and cs-DLK1+/cs-CD34+dim cells were also α-SMA+ but expressed CD31, had a mixed hematopoietic and mesenchymal phenotype, and could neither proliferate nor differentiate into adipocytes. Histological analysis of sWAT detected DLK1+/CD34+ and DLK1+/CD90+ cells mainly in the outer ring of vessel-associated stroma and at capillaries. DLK1+/α-SMA+ cells were localized in the CD34- perivascular ring and in adventitial vascular stroma. All these DLK1+ cells possess a spindle-shaped morphology with extremely long processes. DLK1+/CD34+ cells were also detected in vessel endothelium. Additionally, we show that sWAT contains significantly more DLK1+ cells than visceral (v)WAT. We conclude that sWAT has more DKL1+ cells than vWAT and contains different DLK1/CD34 populations, and only cs-DLK1-/cs-CD34+/CD90+/CD105+dim/α-SMA+/CD45-/CD31- cells in the adventitial vascular stroma exhibit proliferative and adipogenic capacity.
Division for Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department for Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Marit E
ME
Zwierzina
Cell Metabolism and Differentiation Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Asim
A
Ejaz
Division for Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department for Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Mario
M
Bitsche
Division for Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department for Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Michael J F
MJ
Blumer
Cell Metabolism and Differentiation Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Maria C
MC
Mitterberger
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Monika
M
Mattesich
Department of Internal Medicine V, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Arno
A
Amann
Cell Metabolism and Differentiation Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Andreas
A
Kaiser
Division for Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department for Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Elisabeth J
EJ
Pechriggl
Cell Metabolism and Differentiation Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Susanne
S
Hörl
Cell Metabolism and Differentiation Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Ursula
U
Rostek
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Gerhard
G
Pierer
Division for Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department for Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Helga
H
Fritsch
Cell Metabolism and Differentiation Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: werner.zwerschke@uibk.ac.at.
Werner
W
Zwerschke
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000166:cytology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C512941:DLK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
Adipogenesis; Adipose-derived stromal/progenitor cells; CD34; CD90; Clonal expansion; DLK1; Vascular niche; α-SMA