Characterization of Adipose Stem Cells through Single Cell RNA‐sequencing Analysis

Abstract

White adipose tissue is largely divided into visceral epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) and subcutaneous inguinal adipose tissue (IAT). EAT and IAT appear to have their unique roles and different characteristics in wholebody energy homeostasis. Accumulating evidence suggests that adipose stem cells (ASCs) would be a crucial regulator to mediate fat depot-specific characteristics. Although ASC subpopulations have been recently reported, key distinct features of ASCs from two fat depots, EAT and IAT, are largely elusive. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to investigate distinct properties of each ASC. UMAP plot of ASCs revealed common and depot-specific gene expression. Trajectory analysis revealed that ASCs from two fat depots were largely divided into 3 stages. Uncommitted stage (Stage I) ASCs were highly proliferative and multipotent cells. Committed stage (Stage ll) and preadipocytes stage (Stage lll) ASCs exhibited high adipogenic potentials. Proportions of Stage II and III ASCs were enriched in EAT, while Stage I ASCs were the major subtype in IAT. Collectively, these results suggest that ASC heterogeneity would explain hierarchy of ASC that mediate different features in EAT and IAT for adipogenesis.