Human Adipose Derived Cells in Two- and Three-Dimensional Cultures: Functional Validation of an In Vitro Fat Construct

Abstract EN

Obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or above, has increased considerably in incidence and frequency within the United States and globally.

Associated comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have led to a focus on the mechanisms promoting the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Commonly utilized in vitro models employ human or mouse preadipocyte cell lines in a 2-dimensional (2D) format.

Due to the structural, biochemical, and biological limitations of these models, increased attention has been placed on “organ on a chip” technologies for a 3-dimensional (3D) culture.

Herein, we describe a method employing cryopreserved primary human stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells and a human blood product-derived biological scaffold to create a 3D adipose depot in vitro.

The “fat-on-chip” 3D cultures have been validated relative to 2D cultures based on proliferation, flow cytometry, adipogenic differentiation, confocal microscopy/immunofluorescence, and functional assays (adipokine secretion, glucose uptake, and lipolysis).

Thus, the in vitro culture system demonstrates the critical characteristics required for a humanized 3D white adipose tissue (WAT) model.