Lead enhancement of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts differentiation to adipocytes involves ERK, C/EBPβ and PPARγ activation.

Lead (Pb) is an environmental and industrial contaminant that still represents a public health problem. Elevated Pb exposure has been inversely correlated with femoral bone density and associated with osteoporosis. In the last years, it has been shown that inhibition of osteogenesis from mesenchymal stem cells activates adipogenesis and vice versa.