Combined pharmacological targeting of CD9+ progenitors alleviates obesity-induced adipose tissue fibrosis and metabolic impairment
Abstract
Fibrosis in visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) is closely associated with tissue dysfunction and systemic metabolic disturbances in obesity. Identifying pathways amenable to drug intervention to prevent fibrotic changes in vWAT is a critical step in addressing the array of metabolic complications associated with obesity. CD9 + adipose progenitors (Progs) are key drivers of vWAT fibrosis. Here, we explore pharmacological strategies to target these cells and improve metabolic health. Profiling of CD9 + Progs reveals pro-fibrotic pathways that can be targeted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs nintedanib and celecoxib. Treatment with this combination blocks the progression of vWAT fibrosis and improves systemic metabolism in obese mice. Within the CD9 + Prog population, both Ly-6C + Progs and mesothelial cells adopt a pro-fibrotic phenotype during obesity, a shift markedly reduced by the drug treatment. Our data highlight the importance of targeting adipose progenitors to counteract fibrosis and preserve adipose tissue function.
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BibTeX
@article{rebiere2026combined,
title = {{Combined pharmacological targeting of CD9+ progenitors alleviates obesity-induced adipose tissue fibrosis and metabolic impairment}},
author = {Clémentine Rebière and Ana Letícia Silveira and Amanda Oliveira and Christine Rouault and Solia Adriouch and Sébastien Dussaud and Jimon Boniface Abatan and Cindy Rose and Simon Lecoutre and Alexandre Boissonnas and François Lanthiez and Jaqueline Pereira and Gabriela Barbosa Pires Fagundes and Jean Debédat and Fatiha Merabtene and Véronique Pelloux and Jean-Christophe Bichet and Judith Aron-Wisnewsky and Christine Poitou and Laurent Genser and Adaliene Ferreira and Emmanuel Gautier and Karine Clément and Geneviève Marcelin},
journal = {Cell Reports Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102197},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05771174v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Combined pharmacological targeting of CD9+ progenitors alleviates obesity-induced adipose tissue fibrosis and metabolic impairment
AU - Clémentine Rebière
AU - Ana Letícia Silveira
AU - Amanda Oliveira
AU - Christine Rouault
AU - Solia Adriouch
AU - Sébastien Dussaud
AU - Jimon Boniface Abatan
AU - Cindy Rose
AU - Simon Lecoutre
AU - Alexandre Boissonnas
AU - François Lanthiez
AU - Jaqueline Pereira
AU - Gabriela Barbosa Pires Fagundes
AU - Jean Debédat
AU - Fatiha Merabtene
AU - Véronique Pelloux
AU - Jean-Christophe Bichet
AU - Judith Aron-Wisnewsky
AU - Christine Poitou
AU - Laurent Genser
AU - Adaliene Ferreira
AU - Emmanuel Gautier
AU - Karine Clément
AU - Geneviève Marcelin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Cell Reports Medicine
DO - 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102197
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05771174v1
AB - Fibrosis in visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) is closely associated with tissue dysfunction and systemic metabolic disturbances in obesity. Identifying pathways amenable to drug intervention to prevent fibrotic changes in vWAT is a critical step in addressing the array of metabolic complications associated with obesity. CD9 + adipose progenitors (Progs) are key drivers of vWAT fibrosis. Here, we explore pharmacological strategies to target these cells and improve metabolic health. Profiling of CD9 + Progs reveals pro-fibrotic pathways that can be targeted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs nintedanib and celecoxib. Treatment with this combination blocks the progression of vWAT fibrosis and improves systemic metabolism in obese mice. Within the CD9 + Prog population, both Ly-6C + Progs and mesothelial cells adopt a pro-fibrotic phenotype during obesity, a shift markedly reduced by the drug treatment. Our data highlight the importance of targeting adipose progenitors to counteract fibrosis and preserve adipose tissue function.
SN - 2666-3791
ER -