The adipogenic effect of palmitate in mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

In the present study, we examined the effect of palmitate on adipocyte differentiation in mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Obesity is associated with increased adipocyte differentiation of preadipocytes or MSCs. Free fatty acids (FFAs) have been reported to have an influence on adipogenesis. Thus, the elevated level of FFAs in obese individuals may set off a vicious cycle of events leading to further increased adipogenesis. Palmitate is one of the most abundant FFAs in plasma. The results in this study showed that treatment with palmitate for 3 days, followed by maintenance with insulin for 4 days (palmitate 3d/insulin 4d), induced lipid accumulation and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2) expression in bone marrow-derived MSCs. Our results also showed that treatment with palmitate 3d/insulin 4d induced expressions of adipogenic transcription factors, namely CCAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) β, C/EBPα, and PPARΓ in bone marrow-derived MSCs. In comparison of palmitate with stearate, the levels of lipid accumulation, aP2, and adipogenic transcription factors in cells treated with palmitate 3d/insulin 4d were generally higher than those of cells treated with same concentration of stearate 3d/insulin 4d. Taken together, our results suggest that palmitate is a potent adipogenic FFA that triggers adipocyte differentiation of bone marrow-derived MSCs.