Effects of plasticizers on adult human adipocytes (SGBS) using global proteomics

SGBS cells were used as a model system to investigate the cellular mode of action of a variety of plasticizers in human adipocytes. In brief, cells were cultured at 5% CO2 and 37°C in 95% humidity. Cells of generation 40 and passage 3 after thawing were grown to confluence with DMEM/F12 containing 33 µM biotin, 17 µM pantothenate, 100 U/l penicillin, and 0.1 mg/l streptomycin (basal medium) supplemented with 10% FCS (Gibco, Carlsbad, CA, USA). According to the standard differentiation protocol, differentiation was initiated (day 0) after changing to serum-free basal medium supplemented with 0.1 μM cortisol, 0.01 mg/ml apo-transferrin, 0.2 nM triiodothyronine, and 20 nM human insulin (differentiation medium) with the addition of 2 µM rosiglitazone, 25 nM dexamethasone, and 200 µM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine for the first four days. SGBS cells were first differentiated according to the standard protocol for 12 days. Obtained adult adipocytes were then exposed to the plasticizers for 8 days with medium changes every second day. The control contained equivalent amounts of solvent (0.01% MeOH). Additinally, a control on day 12 before exposure was sampled. All SGBS cell culture experiments were conducted in quadruplets.