Hyperglycemia Enhances Adipogenic Induction of Lipid Accumulation: Involvement of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase 1/2, Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt, and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Signaling

The molecular events of hyperglycemia-triggered increase in adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation remain unclear. We examined the effects of hyperglycemia on adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation and its involved signaling molecules, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), ERKs, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from FVB/N mice were capable of differentiating into adipocytes in adipogenic medium. The effects of high glucose (HG) (25.5 mm) were assessed in vitro by RT-PCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunostaining, and immunoblotting. The in vivo effect of hyperglycemia was further studied in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic FVB/N mice. Exposure of MSCs to HG enhanced adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation as compared with 5.5 mm glucose. HG increased PPARγ expression and PI3K activity and its downstream effector Akt phosphorylation during adipogenesis. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt activity with PI3K inhibitor LY2...