Alexander Ky, Atticus J McCoy, Carmen G Flesher, Nicole E Friend, Jie Li, Kore Akinleye, Christopher Patsalis, Carey N Lumeng, Andrew J Putnam, Robert W O'Rourke
Alterations of the extracellular matrix contribute to adipose tissue dysfunction in metabolic disease. We studied the role of matrix density in regulating human adipocyte phenotype in a tunable hydrogel culture system. Lipid accumulation was maximal in intermediate hydrogel density of 5 weight %, relative to 3% and 10%. Adipogenesis and lipid and oxidative metabolic gene pathways were enriched in adipocytes in 5% relative to 3% hydrogels, while fibrotic gene pathways were enriched in 3% hydrogels. These data demonstrate that the intermediate density matrix promotes a more adipogenic, less fibrotic adipocyte phenotype geared towards increased lipid and aerobic metabolism...
December 2023: Adipocyte