Effect of leptin on the differentiation of adipose tissue-derived and bone marrow stromal cells into adipocytes

The multipotency of adipose tissue-derived stem cell (ATSCs) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is controlled by various cytokines, and that cytokines similarly affects the differentiation of both ATSCs and BMSCs. However, the effect of leptin on the differentiation of ATSCs and BMSCs into adipocytes is controversial. In this work, we investigated cytoplasmic lipid accumulation and GPDH activity to verify the effect of leptin on the differentiation of ATSCs and BMSCs into adipocytes. The lipid droplet formation following leptin treatment is slightly greater in ATSCs than in BMSCs. Furthermore, the GPDH activity demonstrates that leptin(up to 500 ng/ ml) significantly accelerates the differentiation of ATSCs and BMSCs into adipocytes, and that the enhancement of differentiation by leptin is slightly greater in ATSCs compared to BMSCs. The enhancement of ATSC and BMSC differentiation by leptin will provide a new clinical approach in tissue engineering to regenerate the subcutaneous fat layer.