Adipogenesis under hyperglycemic condition contribute to the cells’ niche stiffness

Adipogenesis is associated with glucose uptake into lipid droplets and cells’ morphology alteration from elongated fibroblasts to a round shape adipocytes. The cells’ morphology transformation appeared with cytoskeleton reorganization leading to cells membrane dynamic modification. The current research aimed to characterize the cell morphology, cytoskeleton rearrangement, membrane, and ECM stiffness during adipogenesis that occurs under hyperglycemia.

The cytoskeleton was labeled by phalloidin and analyzed at single-cell level using ImageJ software displaying that actin distributes in the periphery of the adipocytes as short fibers. In contrast, fibroblast cells display long actin fibers organized in the same direction. In addition to the cytoskeleton alterations, we also quantified a reduction in adipocyte motility. The plasma membrane of cells was fluorescence-labeled for ganglioside GM1 on live cells, displaying higher labeling in adipocytes compared to fibroblasts. This indicates a lower membrane dynamic entity in adipocytes that may also influence the cells’ signaling.

Furthermore, Adipocytes grew under hyperglycemic in the presence of carbonyl compounds resulted in glycation and crosslinking with proteins. By Rheometer, we measured, the deformation of the cells displays higher stiffness for cells’ that grew under carbonyl compounds which may also increase stiffness in cells’ niche. Particularly, affecting the cells signaling and decreasing glucose uptake.

This study presents a new interpretation related to cells’ morphogenesis, a cytoskeletal reorganization that links to reduced membrane dynamic in adipocytes. These arrangements may contribute to the impairment in signaling leading to the development of insulin resistance and the cause of T2D.