Differentiated Mouse Adipocytes in Primary Culture: A Model of Insulin Resistance

Summary

This protocol describes the isolation of mouse preadipocytes from subcutaneous fat, their differentiation into mature adipocytes, and the induction of insulin resistance. Insulin action is evaluated by the phosphorylation/activation of members of the insulin signaling pathway through western blot. This method allows direct determination of insulin resistance/sensitivity in primary adipocytes.

Abstract

Insulin resistance is a reduced effect of insulin on its target cells, usually derived from decreased insulin receptor signaling. Insulin resistance contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and other obesity-derived diseases of high prevalence worldwide. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance is of great relevance. Several models have been used to study insulin resistance both in vivo and in vitro; primary adipocytes represent an attractive option to study the mechanisms of insulin resistance and identify molecules that counteract this condition and the molecular targets of insulin-sensitizing drugs. Here, we have established an insulin resistance model using primary adipocytes in culture treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

Adipocyte precursor cells (APCs), isolated from collagenase-digested mouse subcutaneous adipose tissue by magnetic cell separation technology, are differentiated into primary adipocytes. Insulin resistance is then induced by treatment with TNF-α, a proinflammatory cytokine that reduces the tyrosine phosphorylation/activation of members of the insulin signaling cascade. Decreased phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1), and protein kinase B (AKT) are quantified by western blot. This method provides an excellent tool to study the mechanisms mediating insulin resistance in adipose tissue.

Introduction

Insulin is an anabolic hormone produced by pancreatic islet β-cells and the key regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism. Among its many functions, insulin regulates glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, gluconeogenesis, protein synthesis, lipogenesis, and lipolysis¹. The initial molecular signal after insulin interaction with its receptor (IR) is the activation of the intrinsic tyrosine protein kinase activity of IR², resulting in its autophosphorylation³ and the subsequent activation of a family of proteins known as insulin receptor substrates (IRS), which binds to adaptor proteins lead....

Protocol

All rodent experiments were approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Institute of Neurobiology of the UNAM, protocol number 075.

1. Isolation of mouse adipocyte precursor cells

1. Euthanize 8-10-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (e.g., by CO₂ inhalation and subsequent cervical dislocation) (four animals per isolation). Disinfect the mice by rubbing with 70% ethanol and obtain the adipose tissue immediately after sacrifice.
   NOTE: After the euthanasia of rodents, isolate the adipose tissue immediately and perform all steps inside a sterile laminar flow hood. Mice are kept under 12 h light/dark cycle....

Results

Over the last few years, the increased prevalence of obesity and T2D has prompted an intense search for the mechanisms mediating insulin resistance in adipose tissue. With the protocol described here, APCs can be differentiated into mature adipocytes to evaluate insulin resistance and sensitivity. Once the APCs reach confluence, it takes 10 days to complete their differentiation into mature adipocytes and their TNF-α-mediated induction of insulin resistance (Figure 1).

Discussion

This paper provides a method for studying insulin resistance that uses primary adipocytes in culture treated with TNF-α. This model has the advantage that primary adipocytes can be cultured under defined conditions for long periods of time with a tight control of cellular environmental factors²⁶. The assay duration is 15-20 days, although variations in the percentage of differentiated adipocytes can occur between experiments. Primary adipocytes have advantages over cell lines since they have .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1. Isolation mouse adipocyte precursor cells
ACK lysing buffer	LONZA	10-548E
Anti-Biotin Microbeads	Miltenyi	130-090-485
Anti-CD31	eBioscience	13-0311-85
AutoMACS Pro Separator	Miltenyi
Basement membrane matrix (matrigel)	Corning	354234
bFGF	Sigma	F0291	Growth factor
BSA	Equitech-Bio, Inc.	BAC63-1000
CD45 Monoclonal Antibody (30-F11) - Biotin	eBioscience	13-0451-85
Collagenase, Type 1	Worthington Biochem	LS004197
Dexamethasone	Sigma	D1756
DMEM	GIBCO	12800017
DMEM low glucose	GIBCO	31600-034
EGF	Peprotech	315-09	Growth factor
FBS	GIBCO	26140-079
ITS mix	Sigma	I3146
L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate	Sigma	A8960
LIF	Millipore	ESG1107	Growth factor
Linoleic acid-albumin	Sigma	L9530
MCDB 201 medium	Sigma	M6770
Normocin	InvivoGen	ant-nr-2
PDGF-BB	Peprotech	315-18	Growth factor
Peniciline-Streptomycine	BioWest	L0022-100
Pre-Separation Filters (70 µm)	Miltenyi	130-095-823
Purified Rat Anti-Mouse CD16 / CD32	BD Pharmingen	553142
Trypsin-EDTA	GIBCO	25300062
2. Adipocyte differentiation and insulin resistance induction
3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine [IBMX]	Sigma	I5879	Differentiation cocktail
BMP4	R&D Systems	5020-BP-010	Differentiation cocktail
Dexamethasone	Sigma	D1756	Differentiation cocktail
Insulin	Sigma	I9278
Rosiglitazone	Cayman	71742	Differentiation cocktail
TNFα	R&D Systems	210-TA-005
3. Evaluation of insulin signaling pathway by western blot
Anti-beta tubulin antibody	Abcam	ab6046
Bromophenol blue	BioRad	161-0404	Laemmli buffer
EDTA	Sigma	E5134	RIPA buffer
EGTA	Sigma	E4378	RIPA buffer
FluorChem E system	ProteinSimple
Glycerol	Sigma	G6279	Laemmli buffer
Glycine	Sigma	G7126	Running and Transfer buffer
Igepal	Sigma	I3021	RIPA buffer
2- mercaptoethanol	Sigma	M3148	Laemmli buffer
Methanol	JT Baker	907007	Transfer buffer
NaCl	JT Baker	3624-05	TBS-T
NaF	Sigma	77F-0379	RIPA buffer
NaOH	JT Baker	3722-19
Na4P2O7	Sigma	114F-0762	RIPA buffer
Na3VO4	Sigma	S6508	RIPA buffer
Nitrocellulose membrane	BioRad	1620112
Nonfat dry milk	BioRad	1706404	Blocking solution
Prestained protein standard	BioRad	1610395
Protease inhibitor cocktail	Sigma	P8340-5ML
Peroxidase AffiniPure Donkey Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L)	Jackson ImmunoResearch	711-035-132
Phospho- Insulin Receptor β	Cell signaling	3024
Phospho-Akt (Ser473) Antibody	Cell signaling	9271
Phospho-IRS1 (Tyr608) antibody	Millipore	9432
Saccharose	JT Baker	407205	RIPA buffer
SDS	BioRad	1610302	Running and laemmli buffer
SuperSignal West Pico PLUS Chemiluminescent Substrate	Thermo Scientific	34577
Tris-base	Promega	H5135	Running, transfer and laemmli buffer
Tris-HCl	JT Baker	4103-02	RIPA buffer - TBS
Tween 20	Sigma	P1379	TBS-T