Control of Embryonic Brown Adipocyte Development by GATA6 I

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a thermogenic organ that protects animals against hypothermia and obesity. BAT derives from the multipotent paraxial mesoderm; however, the identity of embryonic brown fat progenitor cells and regulators of adipogenic commitment are unclear. Here, we performed single cell gene expression analyses of mesenchymal cells during mouse embryogenesis with a focus on BAT development. Live single cells from E10.5-E15.5 mouse embryos were enriched for mesenchymal, dermomyotome (DM) and brown adipose lineage cells as follows: (i) E11.5 and E12.5 DM and mesenchymal cells based on cell surface expression of PDGFRa and/or LRIG1 [30% PDGFRa+, LRIG1(-) cells; 25% PDGFRa(-), LRIG1+ cells, 30% PDGFRa+, LRIG1+ cells, 15% PDGFRa(-), LRIG1(-) cells]. (ii) E13.5-E15.5 fibroblasts through selection of PDGFRa+ cells [75% PDGFRa+; 25% PDGFRa(-)]. (iii) E10.5, E14.5, and E15.5 brown adipose lineage cells based on expression of Early B Cell Factor-2 (Ebf2)-GFP [75% Ebf2-GFP+; 25% Ebf2-GFP(-)].