Characteristics of differentiated newly identified adipose precursor cells

We have identified proliferative cells in adipose tissue expressing adipocyte specific genes, which were named small proliferative adipocytes (SPA). Comparison of gene expression among stromal vascular cells (SVC), SPA and mature adipocyte (MA) revealed that adipocyte specific genes and several neuronal genes were increased in the order of SVC < SPA < MWA. However, proliferin 2 (PLF) was detected only in SPA. We found that SPA changed to lipid laden cells by incubation with differentiation medium containing insulin/dexamethasone/IBMX. In this study, we investigated the gene expression of differentiated SPA (SPAD) comparing with differentiated SVC (SVCD). Microarrays and real time PCR revealed that uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and PLF were strongly expressed in D-SPA. These data suggested that SPA might be able to differentiate into beige cells. Microarray was performed to investigate the characteristics of differentiated SPA (SPAD). The results were confirmed with real time PCR and immunocytochemical study.