Single-cell RNA-sequencing of white adipose tissue stromal cells during CL-induced adipogenesis. Mus musculus strain:C57BL/6j

The global incidence of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has reached epidemic proportions. Although the link between T2D and obesity is undeniable, it is not fully understood how elevated adipose tissue mass leads tot he multiple functional defects that precede overt diabetes. An important gap in our understanding of how obesity promotes metabolic disease is a clear understanding of the cell types that comprise adipose tissue. Recently, technologies have been developed that allow single-cell mRNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of thousands of cells, and thereby provide a means of identifying cell types that is largely unbiased and far more comprehensive. Importantly, when combined with previous cell sorting and histochemical analyses, scRNA-seq can identify critical cell subpopulations and states, and infer differentiation trajectories.