Recent research highlights the distinct role of omental fat in preventing new fat cell formation, providing potential brand-new techniques for targeted obesity treatments and management.Understanding the formation and function of fat tissue is vital for dealing with weight problems and related metabolic conditions. However, the habits of adipose tissue, frequently called body fat, differs depending upon its location within the body.Take, for example, the omentum: a big, apron-like fat hanging from the stomach that covers organs within the peritoneum, such as the stomach and intestines. It not just stores fat but also plays functions in immune policy and tissue regeneration.Omental fat is connected with the “apple” body shape, which emerges when this fat depot broadens substantially, increasing the threat for metabolic illness. This growth is not due to the development of brand-new fat cells, a process called adipogenesis, however mainly through the enhancement of existing cells, a process called hypertrophy. This can result in chronic swelling and insulin resistance.Research on Omental FatThe limited capability of omental fat to form new fat cells, in spite of calorie excess, contrasts with subcutaneous fat and stays improperly comprehended. Now, researchers led by Professor Bart Deplancke at EPFL have recognized a population of cells in human omental adipose tissue that prevents adipogenesis. The discovery, released in Cell Metabolism, supplies a brand-new angle on the restricted capability of omental fat to perform adipogenesis and has considerable ramifications for weight problems management.Confocal microscopy fluorescent pictures of a human omental adipose tissue area (visceral fat), portraying the mesothelial cell layer surrounding lobules of adipocytes. In the image, adipocytes are envisioned using a staining against perilipin 1 (PLIN1, in yellow), while mesothelial cells are stained using TM4SF1 (green) and MSLN (pink). DAPI staining was used to imagine cellular nuclei (cyan). Credit: Radiana Ferrero and Julie Russeil (EPFL)The researchers utilized sophisticated single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze cells from various human fat depots, isolating various cellular subpopulations and testing their ability to become brand-new fat cells. The research study, supported by a number of medical organizations including the CHUV, involved over thirty human donors to make an in-depth contrast throughout different fat locations.The approach determined a population of cells present in the omental fat that may well be the secret to explaining its unusual residential or commercial properties. These cells, described mesothelial cells, usually line certain internal body cavities as a protective layer.Cellular Transitions and Metabolic InfluenceAmong these mesothelial cells, some strangely transitioned closer to mesenchymal cells, which can turn into a variety of cell types including adipocytes (fat cells). This dynamic shift in between cellular states may be a crucial mechanism through which these cells apply their impact on the adipogenic potential of the omental adipose tissue.The study found that the mesenchymal-like residential or commercial properties of these cells are associated with an enhanced capability to regulate their microenvironment, supplying a regulatory mechanism for restricting the growth of adipose tissue. By changing in between these 2 states, the cells might hence be able to influence the total metabolic habits of the omental fat depot and its capability to accumulate fat without setting off metabolic issues.”Importantly, we also uncovered a minimum of part of the molecular system by which this brand-new omental cell population impacts adipogenesis,” says Radiana Ferrero (EPFL), one of the research studys lead authors. “Specifically, the cells express high levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 [IGFBP2], a protein understood to hinder adipogenesis, and secrete this protein in the cells microenvironment. This in turn impacts specific receptors on close-by adipose stem and progenitor cells, successfully preventing them from developing into mature fat cells.””The findings have deep implications for understanding and possibly handling metabolically unhealthy obesity,” describes Pernille Rainer (EPFL), another lead scientist on the research study. “Knowing that omental fat has a built-in mechanism to restrict fat cell development could lead to brand-new treatments that regulate this natural procedure. The research study opens up possibilities for targeted treatments that might regulate the behavior of particular fat depots.”Reference: “A human omentum-specific mesothelial-like stromal population hinders adipogenesis through IGFBP2 secretion” by Radiana Ferrero, Pernille Yde Rainer, Marie Rumpler, Julie Russeil, Magda Zachara, Joern Pezoldt, Guido van Mierlo, Vincent Gardeux, Wouter Saelens, Daniel Alpern, Lucie Favre, Nathalie Vionnet, Styliani Mantziari, Tobias Zingg, Nelly Pitteloud, Michel Suter, Maurice Matter, Kai-Uwe Schlaudraff, Carles Canto and Bart Deplancke, 9 May 2024, Cell Metabolism.DOI: 10.1016/ j.cmet.2024.04.017 The study was funded by École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Fondation Leenaards, Personalized Health and Related Technologies (PHRT), and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
The discovery, released in Cell Metabolism, offers a new angle on the restricted ability of omental fat to perform adipogenesis and has significant implications for weight problems management.Confocal microscopy fluorescent images of a human omental adipose tissue section (visceral fat), depicting the mesothelial cell layer surrounding lobules of adipocytes. Credit: Radiana Ferrero and Julie Russeil (EPFL)The scientists utilized innovative single-cell RNA sequencing to examine cells from numerous human fat depots, separating various cellular subpopulations and testing their capability to turn into new fat cells. These cells, termed mesothelial cells, normally line certain internal body cavities as a protective layer.Cellular Transitions and Metabolic InfluenceAmong these mesothelial cells, some strangely transitioned closer to mesenchymal cells, which can establish into a range of cell types consisting of adipocytes (fat cells). “Knowing that omental fat has an integrated system to limit fat cell development could lead to new treatments that modulate this natural process.
