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Molecular and Functional Characterization of Human Adipocytes

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Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 12

Part of the book series: Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells ((STEM,volume 12))

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Abstract

Adipose tissue, consisting mainly of adipocytes, functions as a critical organ for energy regulation, inflammation and immune response through intricate signals. Mature adipocytes were considered to be in the terminal stage of differentiation and stationary, having lost their proliferative ability. Recently, the capability of mature adipocytes to reprogram their gene expression profile and transform into different cytotypes has been demonstrated. Here, data of both mature and dedifferentiated adipocytes were collected and compared to underline structural and functional features of these cells. In particular, morphology, structure, molecular and immunophenotype markers, and dedifferentiation process of mature isolated adipocytes are analyzed. In addition, molecular and phenotype characterization of dedifferentiated fat cells is described, reporting important results on pluripotent differentiation ability, immunoregolatory and hematopoietic supporting functions of these cells. These findings highlight the concept that adipose lineage cells represent a suitable new cell source for clinical applications in such fields as cell therapy and regenerative medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica di Ematologia, Dipartimento Scienze Cliniche e Molecolari, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto, Ancona, 60020, Italy

    Antonella Poloni & Giulia Maurizi

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  1. Antonella Poloni
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  2. Giulia Maurizi
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Correspondence to Antonella Poloni .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Kean University, Room 213, Library Building, Union, New Jersey, USA

    M.A. Hayat

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Poloni, A., Maurizi, G. (2014). Molecular and Functional Characterization of Human Adipocytes. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 12. Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8032-2_20

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