Mature adipocyte-derived dedifferentiated fat cells can transdifferentiate into skeletal myocytes in vitro

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Dec 19;377(3):780-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.10.046. Epub 2008 Oct 18.

Abstract

We have previously reported the establishment of preadipocyte cell lines, termed dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells, from mature adipocytes of various animals. DFAT cells possess long-term viability and can redifferentiate into adipocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, DFAT cells can transdifferentiate into osteoblasts and chondrocytes under appropriate culture conditions. However, it is unclear whether DFAT cells are capable of transdifferentiating into skeletal myocytes, which is common in the mesodermal lineage. Here, we show that DFAT cells can be induced to transdifferentiate into skeletal myocytes in vitro. Myogenic induction of DFAT cells resulted in the expression of MyoD and myogenin, followed by cell fusion and formation of multinucleated cells expressing sarcomeric myosin heavy chain. These results indicate that DFAT cells derived from mature adipocytes can transdifferentiate into skeletal myocytes in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / cytology*
  • Adipocytes / drug effects
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipogenesis
  • Animals
  • Azacitidine / pharmacology
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Transdifferentiation* / genetics
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects
  • Gene Silencing
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / cytology*
  • MyoD Protein / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • MyoD Protein
  • MyoD1 myogenic differentiation protein
  • Azacitidine