Dorothy B. Hausman

The biology of white adipocyte proliferation.

Expanded adipose tissue mass increases the risk for many clinical conditions including diabetes, hypertension, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, and some forms of cancer. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand the mechanisms by which fat pads expand. The enlargement of fat cells during the development of obesity has been previously hypothesized to be a triggering factor for the proliferation of new fat cells. There is now a preponderance of evidence that adipose tissue is a source of growth factors such as IGF‐I, IGF binding proteins, TNFα, angiotensin II, and MCSF that are capable of stimulating proliferation. The relative importance of these autocrine/paracrine factors in the normal control of preadipocyte proliferation is unknown. In addition, the proliferative response of preadipocytes to the paracrine milieu is undoubtedly modulated by neural inputs to fat tissue and/or serum factors. Together, these multiple regulatory controls orchestrate overall and region‐specific adipose tissue cellularity responses associated with the development of hyperplastic obesity. Both in vivo and in vitro studies are needed to understand the complex, interacting physiological mechanisms by which growth of this important organ is regulated.

Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development—Folate Review

The Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND) project is designed to provide evidence-based advice to anyone with an interest in the role of nutrition in health. Specifically, the BOND program provides state-of-the-art information and service with regard to selection, use, and interpretation of biomarkers of nutrient exposure, status, function, and effect. To accomplish this objective, expert panels are recruited to evaluate the literature and to draft comprehensive reports on the current state of the art with regard to specific nutrient biology and available biomarkers for assessing nutrients in body tissues at the individual and population level. Phase I of the BOND project includes the evaluation of biomarkers for 6 nutrients: iodine, iron, zinc, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin B-12. This review represents the second in the series of reviews and covers all relevant aspects of folate biology and biomarkers. The article is organized to provide the reader with a full appreciation of folates history as a public health issue, its biology, and an overview of available biomarkers (serum folate, RBC folate, and plasma homocysteine concentrations) and their interpretation across a range of clinical and population-based uses. The article also includes a list of priority research needs for advancing the area of folate biomarkers related to nutritional health status and development.

The development and endocrine functions of adipose tissue

White adipose tissue is a mesenchymal tissue that begins developing in the fetus. Classically known for storing the bodys fuel reserves, adipose tissue is now recognized as an endocrine organ. As such, the secretions from adipose tissue are known to affect several systems such as the vascular and immune systems and play major roles in metabolism. Numerous studies have shown nutrient or hormonal manipulations can greatly influence adipose tissue development. In addition, the associations between various disease states, such as insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease, and disregulation of adipose tissue seen in epidemiological and intervention studies are great. Evaluation of known adipokines suggests these factors secreted from adipose tissue play roles in several pathologies. As the identification of more adipokines and determination of their role in biological systems, and the interactions between adipocytes and other cells types continues, there is little doubt that we will gain a greater appreciation for a tissue once thought to simply store excess energy.

Association of fat cell size and paracrine growth factors in development of hyperplastic obesity

Inguinal, epididymal, and retroperitoneal adipose tissue from lean and obese Zucker rats, 3-15 wk of age, was used to determine the association among adipocyte size distribution, the presence of paracrine growth factors in adipose tissue, and subsequent changes in adipocyte number. For each specific depot and time point, obese rats had a greater percentage of large adipocytes than did lean rats. A positive correlation ( P < 0.02) was found in obese rats between the percentage of inguinal and epididymal adipocytes in the 140- to 180-μm size range and the ability of conditioned medium prepared from these depots to stimulate cellular proliferation in a bioassay system utilizing preadipocytes from inguinal fat pads of normal rats. Proliferative activity of the conditioned medium from all depots in obese rats was positively correlated ( P < 0.01) to subsequent changes in fat cell number. The data presented here for the inguinal and epididymal depot of obese Zucker rats are consistent with the hypothesis that enlarged adipocytes secrete growth factors that induce preadipocyte proliferation.Inguinal, epididymal, and retroperitoneal adipose tissue from lean and obese Zucker rats, 3-15 wk of age, was used to determine the association among adipocyte size distribution, the presence of paracrine growth factors in adipose tissue, and subsequent changes in adipocyte number. For each specific depot and time point, obese rats had a greater percentage of large adipocytes than did lean rats. A positive correlation (P < 0.02) was found in obese rats between the percentage of inguinal and epididymal adipocytes in the 140- to 180-micrometer size range and the ability of conditioned medium prepared from these depots to stimulate cellular proliferation in a bioassay system utilizing preadipocytes from inguinal fat pads of normal rats. Proliferative activity of the conditioned medium from all depots in obese rats was positively correlated (P < 0.01) to subsequent changes in fat cell number. The data presented here for the inguinal and epididymal depot of obese Zucker rats are consistent with the hypothesis that enlarged adipocytes secrete growth factors that induce preadipocyte proliferation.

Combined effects of genistein, quercetin, and resveratrol in human and 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The natural compounds genistein (G), quercetin (Q), and resveratrol (R) have been reported to each exhibit anti-adipogenic activities in adipocytes and antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities in several cell types. We studied the combined effects of G, Q, and R on adipogenesis and apoptosis in primary human adipocytes (HAs) and 3T3-L1 murine adipocyte (MAs). Combined treatment with 6.25 microM G, 12.5 microM Q, and 12.5 microM R during the 14-day differentiation period caused an enhanced inhibition of lipid accumulation in maturing HAs that was greater than the responses to individual compounds and to the calculated additive response. Glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, a marker of late adipocyte differentiation, was decreased markedly in HAs treated with the combination of G+Q+R. In addition, combined treatment with 50 microM G, 100 microM Q, and 100 microM R for 3 days decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in early- and mid- phase maturing and lipid-filled mature HAs. In contrast, no compound alone induced apoptosis. Oil Red O stain and Hoechst 33342 stain were performed to confirm the effects on lipid accumulation and apoptosis, respectively. We also determined whether MAs responded to the combination treatment similarly to HAs. As in HAs, G+Q+R treatment decreased lipid accumulation in maturing MAs and increased apoptosis in pre- and lipid-filled mature MAs more than the responses to G, Q, and R when used separately. These results show that lower concentrations of combined treatments with several natural compounds may be useful for treatments for obesity through the suppression of adipogenesis and enhanced adipocyte apoptosis.

Relationship between Serum and Brain Carotenoids, α-Tocopherol, and Retinol Concentrations and Cognitive Performance in the Oldest Old from the Georgia Centenarian Study

Oxidative stress is involved in age-related cognitive decline. The dietary antioxidants, carotenoids, tocopherols, and vitamin A may play a role in the prevention or delay in cognitive decline. In this study, sera were obtained from 78 octogenarians and 220 centenarians from the Georgia Centenarian Study. Brain tissues were obtained from 47 centenarian decedents. Samples were analyzed for carotenoids, α-tocopherol, and retinol using HPLC. Analyte concentrations were compared with cognitive tests designed to evaluate global cognition, dementia, depression and cognitive domains (memory, processing speed, attention, and executive functioning). Serum lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene concentrations were most consistently related to better cognition (P < 0.05) in the whole population and in the centenarians. Only serum lutein was significantly related to better cognition in the octogenarians. In brain, lutein and β-carotene were related to cognition with lutein being consistently associated with a range of measures. There were fewer significant relationships for α-tocopherol and a negative relationship between brain retinol concentrations and delayed recognition. These findings suggest that the status of certain carotenoids in the old may reflect their cognitive function. The protective effect may not be related to an antioxidant effect given that α-tocopherol was less related to cognition than these carotenoids.

What are subcutaneous adipocytes really good for...

Abstract:  Our acute awareness of the cosmetic, psychosocial and sexual importance of subcutaneous adipose tissue contrasts dramatically with how poorly we have understood the biology of this massive, enigmatic, often ignored and much‐abused skin compartment. Therefore, it is timely to recall the exciting, steadily growing, yet underappreciated body of evidence that subcutaneous adipocytes are so much more than just ‘fat guys’, hanging around passively to conspire, at most, against your desperate attempts to maintain ideal weight. Although the subcutis, quantitatively, tends to represent the dominant architectural component of human skin, conventional wisdom confines its biological key functions to those of energy storage, physical buffer, thermoregulation and thermoinsulation. However, already the distribution of human superficial adipose tissue, by itself, questions how justified the popular belief is that ‘skin fat’ (which actually may be more diverse than often assumed) serves primarily thermoinsulatory purposes. And although the metabolic complications of obesity are well appreciated, our understanding of how exactly subcutaneous adipocytes contribute to extracutaneous disease – and even influence important immune and brain functions! – is far from complete. The increasing insights recently won into subcutaneous adipose tissue as a cytokine depot that regulates innate immunity and cell growth exemplarily serve to illustrate the vast open research expanses that remain to be fully explored in the subcutis. The following public debate carries you from the evolutionary origins and the key functional purposes of adipose tissue, via adipose‐derived stem cells and adipokines straight to the neuroendocrine, immunomodulatory and central nervous effects of signals that originate in the subcutis – perhaps, the most underestimated tissue of the human body. The editors are confident that, at the end, you shall agree: No basic scientist and no doctor with a serious interest in skin, and hardly anyone else in the life sciences, can afford to ignore the subcutaneous adipocyte – beyond its ample impact on beauty, benessence and body mass.

Regulation of Adipose Cell Development In Utero

Abstract The condition of obesity is impacted by increases in fat cell number, fat cell size, or a combination of the two. It is generally believed that fat cell number is dependent on the age of onset and the degree of obesity. This review provides an update on intrauterine growth of fetal adipose tissue, the earliest period of proliferation onset, and the factors that interact to enhance or suppress development. Fetal adipose tissue development is regulated by the complex interaction of maternal, endocrine, and paracrine influences that initiate specific changes in angiogenesis, adipogenesis, and metabolism. Developmental stages and metabolic processes influenced by specific hormones and paracrine factors have been identified through examination of the offspring of obese and diabetic pregnancies, hormonal manipulation during late pregnancy in animal models, and the use of cell culture. Collectively, the results of the studies cited herein delineate the basis for imprinting or conditioning of fetal preadipocytes at the paracrine/autocrine level and a role of thyroxine, glucocorticoids, and other hormones in fetal adipose tissue development and metabolism.

Esculetin induces apoptosis and inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells

Objective: To determine the effects of esculetin, a plant phenolic compound with apoptotic activity in cancer cells, on 3T3‐L1 adipocyte apoptosis and adipogenesis.

Genistein inhibits differentiation of primary human adipocytes

Genistein, a major soy isoflavone, has been reported to exhibit antiadipogenic and proapoptotic potential in vivo and in vitro. It is also a phytoestrogen which has high affinity to estrogen receptor beta. In this study, we determined the effect of genistein on adipogenesis and estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta expression during differentiation in primary human preadipocytes. Genistein inhibited lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 6.25 microM and higher, with 50 microM genistein inhibiting lipid accumulation almost completely. Low concentrations of genistein (3.25 microM) increased cell viability and higher concentrations (25 and 50 microM) decreased it by 16.48+/-1.35% (P<.0001) and 50.68+/-1.34% (P<.0001). Oil Red O staining was used to confirm the effects on lipid accumulation. The inhibition of lipid accumulation was associated with inhibition of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and down-regulation of expression of adipocyte-specific genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, adipocyte fatty acid binding protein, fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, perilipin, leptin, lipoprotein lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase. These effects of genistein during the differentiation period were associated with down-regulation of ERalpha and ERbeta expression. This study adds to the elucidation of the molecular pathways involved in the inhibition of adipogenesis by phytoestrogens.