美国哈佛医学院Samantha A. Morris课题组发现了比较单细胞谱系追踪识别皮肤和腹股沟脂肪中不同的脂肪细胞前体动力学。相关论文于2025年7月30日发表在《细胞—干细胞》杂志上。

使用基于单细胞RNA测序的谱系追踪，课题组研究人员表征了皮肤脂肪组织中的APCs-与其他部位（如腹股沟脂肪）相比，APCs具有快速脂肪形成的独特能力。该研究团队确定了一个以前未被表征的未成熟前脂肪细胞群体，并揭示了APCs之间不同的分化潜力。与传统的逐步分化模型相反，祖细胞主要产生固定的前脂肪细胞，而先前存在的前脂肪细胞在未成熟状态下积累，具有分化潜能。利用这种完善的APC层次结构，课题组发现Sox9是祖细胞增殖和脂肪形成分化的关键调节因子。跨库移植进一步证明了内在和外在因素如何不同地调节皮肤祖细胞的行为，突出了皮肤和腹股沟库之间不同的脂肪形成动力学。总之，这些见解重新定义了支持皮肤脂肪组织快速脂肪形成的细胞层次和分子机制。

研究人员表示，白色脂肪组织通过脂肪细胞前体细胞（APCs）支持基本的生理功能，包括祖细胞和前脂肪细胞，在储存扩张过程中产生成熟的脂肪细胞。

附：英文原文

Title: Comparative single-cell lineage tracing identifies distinct adipocyte precursor dynamics in skin and inguinal fat

Author: Guillermo C. Rivera-Gonzalez, Emily G. Butka, Carolynn E. Gonzalez, Rachel L. Mintz, Sarah S. Kleb, Violet Josephson, Wenjun Kong, Kunal Jindal, Kenji Kamimoto, Brett A. Shook, Matthew S. Rodeheffer, Samantha A. Morris

Issue&Volume: 2025-07-30

Abstract: White adipose tissue supports essential physiological functions through adipocyte precursor cells (APCs), comprising progenitors and preadipocytes, which generate mature adipocytes during depot expansion. Using single-cell RNA sequencing-based lineage tracing, we characterize APCs in skin adipose tissue—a depot uniquely capable of rapid adipogenesis compared with other sites, such as inguinal adipose. We identify a previously uncharacterized population of immature preadipocytes and reveal distinct differentiation potentials among APCs. Contrary to traditional stepwise differentiation models, progenitors predominantly generate committed preadipocytes, whereas preexisting preadipocytes accumulate in immature states with divergent potential. Leveraging this refined APC hierarchy, we uncover Sox9 as a crucial regulator of progenitor proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. Cross-depot transplantation further demonstrates how intrinsic and extrinsic factors differentially regulate skin progenitor behavior, highlighting distinct adipogenic dynamics between skin and inguinal depots. Together, these insights redefine the cellular hierarchy and molecular mechanisms underpinning rapid adipogenesis in skin adipose tissue.

DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2025.07.004

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909(25)00261-9