Melatonin and Vitamin D Interfere with the Adipogenic Fate of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Abstract

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) represent one of the cellular populations resident in adipose tissue. They can be recruited under certain stimuli and committed to become preadipocytes, and then mature adipocytes. Controlling stem cell differentiation towards the adipogenic phenotype could have a great impact on future drug development aimed at counteracting fat depots. Stem cell commitment can be influenced by different molecules, such as melatonin, which we have previously shown to be an osteogenic inducer. Here, we aimed at evaluating the effects elicited by melatonin, even in the presence of vitamin D, on ADSC adipogenesis assessed in a specific medium. The transcription of specific adipogenesis orchestrating genes, such as aP2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), and that of adipocyte-specific genes, including lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and acyl-CoA thioesterase 2 (ACOT2), was significantly inhibited in cells that had been treated in the presence of melatonin and vitamin D, alone or in combination. Protein content and lipid accumulation confirmed a reduction in adipogenesis in ADSCs that had been grown in adipogenic conditions, but in the presence of melatonin and/or vitamin D. Our findings indicate the role of melatonin and vitamin D in deciding stem cell fate, and disclose novel therapeutic approaches against fat depots.

Fibroblast Proliferation and Migration in Wound Healing by Phytochemicals: Evidence for a Novel Synergic Outcome

“…Actually, plants and herbs, as active medicinal, are applied to stimulate stem cell proliferation, regeneration and rehabilitation in damaged tissues, being nowadays still employed in the attempt to counteract different groups of diseases [38]. Moreover, different natural compounds, as bioactive molecules are largely used in vitro to condition specific culturing media in the attempt to activate stem cell regenerative potential [39]- [42]. On the other hand, they have been also largely exploited in cancer treatment, for their capability to inhibit cell proliferation and neoplastic progression [43]- [46].…”

Effect of rhTSH on Lipids

“…The effect of thyroid hormone on lipid metabolism is complex and poorly understood. Lipid metabolism is regulated by different enzymes, which are regulated by different specific gene and hormones [20,21] and lack of thyroid hormone causes elevation in total cholesterol and LDLc by changes in the synthesis, metabolism, and mobilisation of lipids [22].…”

Direct-to-Consumer Nutrigenetics Testing: An Overview

“…Vitamin D is important in a wide range of physiological processes, and its deficit has been related to different chronic diseases and metabolic conditions, including obesity. Nonetheless, encompassing literature studies indicated only a faint association between gene variants acting in vitamin D metabolism and the obese phenotype [33], while the environment seems to play a major role [34][35][36]. The overall estimate of heritability of 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum concentrations attributable to the six susceptibility loci harboring genome-wide significant SNPs (recently identified in a large GWAS) is 7.5%, with statistically significant loci explaining 38% of this total [37].…”