First Author | Matsushita K | Year | 2016 |
Journal | Lab Invest | Volume | 96 |
Issue | 8 | Pages | 909-17 |
PubMed ID | 27295344 | Mgi Jnum | J:318398 |
Mgi Id | MGI:6859502 | Doi | 10.1038/labinvest.2016.66 |
Citation | Matsushita K, et al. (2016) Deletion of angiotensin II type 2 receptor accelerates adipogenesis in murine mesenchymal stem cells via Wnt10b/beta-catenin signaling. Lab Invest 96(8):909-17 |
abstractText | Recent evidence suggests that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has a vital role in adipocyte biology and the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome. Obesity is the main culprit of metabolic syndrome; and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been forwarded as a major source of adipocyte generation. Previously, we reported that MSCs have a local RAS and that pharmacological blockade of angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) promotes adipogenesis in human MSCs. However, the definitive roles of AT2R and how AT2R functions in adipogenesis remains unknown. To this end, we employed AT2R-null murine MSCs to characterize how AT2R affects the differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes. Murine MSCs were isolated from AT2R-null mice and wild-type littermates, grown to confluency, and then differentiated into adipocytes. Adipogenesis was quantitated by assessing the lipid droplet accumulation. Using the lipophilic fluorescent dye, the AT2R-null cells showed significantly increased total fluorescence (261.6+/-49.6% vs littermate) on day 7. Oil red O staining followed by extraction of the absorbed dye and measurement of the absorbance on day 14 also exhibited significantly increased lipid droplet accumulation in the AT2R-null cells (202.7+/-14.1% vs littermate). We also examined the expression of adipogenic marker genes by quantitative RT-PCR. The AT2R-null group exhibited significantly increased expression of PPAR-gamma, fatty acid synthase, and adiponectin (vs littermate). We further examined the role of Wnt10b/beta-catenin signaling, which reportedly has an important inhibitory role in adipogenesis. The AT2R-null group exhibited significantly decreased Wnt10b expression accompanied by decreased beta-catenin (vs littermate). Our results thus revealed that the AT2R inhibits adipogenic differentiation in murine MSCs. Moreover, this inhibitory effect is associated with Wnt10b/beta-catenin signaling. These results provide important insights into the pathophysiology of obesity and obesity-related consequences such as metabolic syndrome, hinting at possible future therapies. |