Abstract
Maintenance of adipocyte precursors is critical for regulating metabolism and preventing obesity related disease. These precursors have been immortalized and studied in cellular models as well as—more recently—in animal models. However, little is known about adipocyte precursors from animals of different ages. Most research has focused on adipocyte precursors during obesity. This review goes over the most recent reports of adipocyte precursors during development and in adulthood. Some of these new analyses are due to new techniques such as single cell-RNA sequencing and temporally controlled lineage tracing. With these tools, we have been able to further our understanding of adipocyte precursor lineages and their different regulatory mechanisms. As we learn more about adipocyte precursor plasticity and regulation, we can hope to use this knowledge for future clinical applications.
Highlights
Once viewed as an inert organ of energy storage, adipose tissue is appreciated to be a central node for the dynamic regulation of systemic metabolism and energy expenditure
Most research on adipose tissue has focused on mature animals and there is a dearth of information on adipogenesis in developing animals
brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige fat both express Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and release energy as heat, beige adipocytes only begin differentiating in mice after birth and peak at postnatal day 21 (P21) when kept at room temperature
Summary
Reviewed by: Qiong Wang, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States Ma. Maintenance of adipocyte precursors is critical for regulating metabolism and preventing obesity related disease. These precursors have been immortalized and studied in cellular models as well as—more recently—in animal models. This review goes over the most recent reports of adipocyte precursors during development and in adulthood. Some of these new analyses are due to new techniques such as single cell-RNA sequencing and temporally controlled lineage tracing. With these tools, we have been able to further our understanding of adipocyte precursor lineages and their different regulatory mechanisms.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
