AI Article Synopsis
- Researchers are investigating how fat cells develop and the specific factors that influence their precursors, but many details remain unclear.
- A protein called V-set and transmembrane domain containing 2A (VSTM2A) has been identified as being important in early stages of fat cell formation, as it is produced by preadipocytes.
- VSTM2A not only promotes the development of fat cells but also interacts with blood vessels and regulates specific signaling pathways that enhance fat cell differentiation.
Article Abstract
Despite progress in our comprehension of the mechanisms regulating adipose tissue development, the nature of the factors that functionally characterize adipose precursors is still elusive. Defining the early steps regulating adipocyte development is needed for the generation of tools to control adipose tissue size and function. Here, we report the discovery of V-set and transmembrane domain containing 2A (VSTM2A) as a protein expressed and secreted by committed preadipocytes. VSTM2A expression is elevated in the early phases of adipogenesis in vitro and adipose tissue development in vivo. We show that VSTM2A-producing cells associate with the vasculature and express the common surface markers of adipocyte progenitors. Overexpression of VSTM2A induces adipogenesis, whereas its depletion impairs this process. VSTM2A controls preadipocyte determination at least in part by modulating BMP signaling and PPARγ2 activation. We propose a model in which VSTM2A is produced to preserve and amplify the adipogenic capability of adipose precursors.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5551894 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.015 | DOI Listing |
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