Programming human pluripotent stem cells into adipocytes [Affymetrix]

The utility of human pluripotent stem cells as a tool for understanding disease and as a renewable source of cells for transplantation therapies is dependent on efficient differentiation protocols that convert these cells into relevant adult cell types. Here we report the robust and efficient differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into adipocytes. We found that inducible expression of PPARG2 in pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells programmed their development towards an adipocyte cell fate. Using this approach, multiple human pluripotent cell lines were differentiated into adipocytes with efficiencies of 85% to 90%. These pluripotent stem cell-derived adipocytes retained their identity independent of transgene expression, could be maintained in culture for several weeks, expressed mature markers, and exhibited mature functional properties such as lipid catabolism in response to a beta-adrenergic stimulus. Global transcriptional and lipid metabolomic analyses further confirmed the identity and maturity of these pluripotent stem cell-derived adipocytes.

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Ahfeldt T, Schinzel RT, Lee YK, Hendrickson D, Kaplan A, Lum DH, Camahort R, Xia F, Shay J, Rhee EP, Clish CB, Deo RC, Shen T, Lau FH, Cowley A, Mowrer G, Al-Siddiqi H, Nahrendorf M, Musunuru K, Gerszten RE, Rinn JL, Cowan CA