Centre for Clinical and Basic Research, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
J Cell Biochem. 2010 Jun 1;110(3):564-72. doi: 10.1002/jcb.22598.
White adipose tissue (WAT) is no longer considered a depot for energy storage in the form of triglycerides, but is a secretory organ that releases factors, known as adipokines, capable of regulating several physiological processes. Alteration of WAT function with subsequent dysfunctional expression and secretion of adipokines plays a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. For this reason, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating adipocyte function is deemed necessary for planning strategies to treat and prevent obesity and its metabolic complications. This review examines cell culture models currently available for studying adipocyte biology. We focus on advantages, disadvantages and main differences between established preadipocyte cell lines and primary preadipocyte cultures. We revise protocols used to promote adipocyte differentiation and mature adipocytes dedifferentiation into preadipocytes. Finally, we briefly describe co-cultures of adipocytes with other cell types and three-dimensional adipocyte culture systems. These models allow investigation of cell-cell interactions with the cross-talk physiologically occurring between adipocytes and other cell types residing within or outside adipose tissue.
白色脂肪组织（WAT）不再被认为是三酰甘油形式的能量储存库，而是一种分泌器官，它释放的因子被称为脂肪因子，能够调节多种生理过程。WAT 功能的改变，随后导致脂肪因子的功能失调表达和分泌，在肥胖症、糖尿病和其他代谢性疾病的发病机制中起着关键作用。出于这个原因，人们认为有必要更深入地了解调节脂肪细胞功能的分子机制，以便规划治疗和预防肥胖及其代谢并发症的策略。本文综述了目前用于研究脂肪细胞生物学的细胞培养模型。我们重点介绍了用于研究脂肪细胞生物学的已建立的前体脂肪细胞系和原代前体脂肪细胞培养物的优缺点和主要区别。我们复习了促进脂肪细胞分化和成熟脂肪细胞去分化为前体脂肪细胞的方案。最后，我们简要描述了脂肪细胞与其他细胞类型的共培养和三维脂肪细胞培养系统。这些模型允许研究细胞-细胞相互作用，以及脂肪细胞与存在于脂肪组织内外的其他细胞类型之间发生的生理串扰。
