Regulatory mechanism of adipose stem cells associated with vascular remodeling in obesity

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K08549
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54040:Metabolism and endocrinology-related
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: Wada Tsutomu 富山大学, 学術研究部薬学・和漢系, 講師 (00419334)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 笹岡 利安 富山大学, 学術研究部薬学・和漢系, 教授 (00272906)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ペリサイト / 脂肪幹細胞 / 肥満 / 脂肪組織血管 / 慢性炎症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Increase of visceral fat is crucial in the progression of obesity; however, the underlying mechanism that controls the proliferation and differentiation of adipose stem cells remains unclear. Since adipose stem cells are maintained in the perivascular microenvironment, we hypothesized that obesity-induced detachment of pericytes may trigger the proliferation and differentiation of adipose stem cells. In the visceral adipose tissue of PDGFRb deficient mice fed a high fat diet for 8 weeks, pericytes did not detach from adipose vessels, the proliferative activity of adipose stem cells decreased, and the number of adipose stem cells decreased. In addition, pericytes suppressed adipogenic differentiation through their secreted factors. Therefore, disruption of the adipose stem cell niche by pericyte detachment appears to be important for adipose stem cell proliferation and differentiation into adipocytes in obese adipose tissue.

Free Research Field

代謝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

内臓脂肪幹細胞ニッチの制御機構を明らかにした本研究成果は、肥満病態の理解を促進させると考えられる。さらに、代謝的に健全な肥満状態による代謝疾患予防戦略を確立するための開発基盤の強化に貢献すると期待される。