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“The preadipocyte factor” DLK1 marks adult mouse adipose tissue residing vascular cells that lack in vitro adipogenic differentiation potential
Author(s) -
Andersen Ditte Caroline,
Jensen Line,
Schrøder Henrik Daa,
Jensen Charlotte Harken
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.08.002
Subject(s) - adipogenesis , stromal vascular fraction , adipose tissue , microbiology and biotechnology , 3t3 l1 , matrigel , biology , stromal cell , in vitro , population , chemistry , endocrinology , cancer research , medicine , genetics , environmental health
Delta‐like 1 (Dlk1) is expressed in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes and has frequently been referred to as “the” preadipocyte marker, yet the phenotype of DLK1 + cells in adipose tissue remains undetermined. Herein, we demonstrate that DLK1 + cells encompass around 1–2% of the adult mouse adipose stromal vascular fraction (SVF). Unexpectedly, the DLK1 + SVF population was enriched for cells expressing genes generally ascribed to the vascular lineage and did not possess any adipogenic differentiation potential in vitro. Instead, DLK1 + cells comprised an immediate ability for cobblestone formation, generation of tube‐like structures on matrigel, and uptake of Acetylated Low Density‐Lipoprotein, all characteristics of endothelial cells. We therefore suggest that DLK1 + SVF cells are of a vascular origin and not them‐selves committed preadipocytes as assumed hitherto.