Adipogenic

Adipogenic is a term related to adipogenesis, the biological process by which precursor cells differentiate into adipocytes, the fat-storing cells of adipose tissue. Adipogenesis is important during embryonic development and continues in adulthood as adipose tissue expands in response to energy surplus or injury. The term may describe signals, conditions, or cell types that promote or undergo adipocyte formation.

The differentiation program is controlled by a network of transcription factors, with PPARγ and C/EBPα acting as master regulators. Early in differentiation, C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ are induced and activate PPARγ and C/EBPα, which in turn drive expression of adipocyte genes such as FABP4, adiponectin, perilipin, and enzymes involved in lipid storage. Lipid accumulation forms characteristic droplets in mature adipocytes.

In laboratories, adipogenic differentiation is commonly induced in vitro in mesenchymal stem cells or preadipocytes (for example, 3T3-L1 cells) using adipogenic induction media containing insulin, dexamethasone, and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor such as IBMX, sometimes with rosiglitazone to activate PPARγ. Differentiation is typically assessed by lipid staining (e.g., Oil Red O) and expression of adipocyte markers.

Adipogenic potential influences adipose tissue development and remodeling and can impact metabolic health. Dysregulated adipogenesis is discussed in obesity, lipodystrophy, and aging, and adipose tissue expansion involves both adipogenesis and hypertrophy. The concept is also relevant to regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, where adipogenic differentiation is used to generate fat tissue for reconstructive purposes.