Depot‐Specific Insulin Receptor Isoform Dynamics During Human Adipose‐Derived Stem Cell Adipogenesis
- 1Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area‐Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases University of Bari Aldo Moro Bari Italy
- 2Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Surgery LUM University Casamassima Bari Italy
Abstract
Objective: The insulin receptor (IR) and the insulin‐like growth factor I receptor (IGF‐IR) regulate adipose tissue (AT) differentiation. This study investigated the expression of IGF‐IR, IR, and the IR isoforms (IRa and IRb) in human subcutaneous (S‐ASC) and visceral (V‐ASC) adipose‐derived stem cells.
Methods: S‐AT and V‐AT biopsies were obtained from human donors and ASC were differentiated into adipocytes. mRNA levels of all receptors were quantified by qPCR at baseline and after differentiation. IR protein expression and adipogenic efficiency were assessed by flow cytometry.
Results: In undifferentiated ASC, IGF‐IR transcripts exceeded IR and were higher in S‐ASC than V‐ASC. Upon differentiation, IGF‐IR decreased in S‐ASC but remained unchanged in V‐ASC, whereas IR increased in both depots. S‐ASC displayed ~twofold higher IRa expression and greater insulin‐induced Akt activation. During adipogenesis, IR expression rose in both depots, with IRb exceeding IRa particularly in V‐ASC (+50%). In whole AT, IR exceeded IGF‐IR, and no depot‐specific differences were observed between IR isoforms. Adipogenic conversion was higher in S‐ASC (60%) than V‐ASC (20%). Only ~77% of S‐ASC‐ and ~61% of V‐ASC‐derived adipocytes expressed surface IR.
Conclusions: Depot‐specific dynamics of IR isoforms may influence adipogenic capacity and insulin responsiveness and suggest partially receptor‐independent pathways of adipocyte differentiation.
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BibTeX
@article{genchi2026depotspecific,
title = {{Depot‐Specific Insulin Receptor Isoform Dynamics During Human Adipose‐Derived Stem Cell Adipogenesis}},
author = {Valentina Annamaria Genchi and Celeste Lauriola and Cristina Caccioppoli and Rossella D'Oria and Nicola Marrano and Giuseppina Biondi and Sebastio Perrini and Annalisa Natalicchio and Luigi Laviola and Francesco Giorgino and Angelo Cignarelli},
journal = {Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/oby.70315},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.70315},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Depot‐Specific Insulin Receptor Isoform Dynamics During Human Adipose‐Derived Stem Cell Adipogenesis
AU - Valentina Annamaria Genchi
AU - Celeste Lauriola
AU - Cristina Caccioppoli
AU - Rossella D'Oria
AU - Nicola Marrano
AU - Giuseppina Biondi
AU - Sebastio Perrini
AU - Annalisa Natalicchio
AU - Luigi Laviola
AU - Francesco Giorgino
AU - Angelo Cignarelli
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
DO - 10.1002/oby.70315
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.70315
AB - Objective: The insulin receptor (IR) and the insulin‐like growth factor I receptor (IGF‐IR) regulate adipose tissue (AT) differentiation. This study investigated the expression of IGF‐IR, IR, and the IR isoforms (IRa and IRb) in human subcutaneous (S‐ASC) and visceral (V‐ASC) adipose‐derived stem cells. Methods: S‐AT and V‐AT biopsies were obtained from human donors and ASC were differentiated into adipocytes. mRNA levels of all receptors were quantified by qPCR at baseline and after differentiation. IR protein expression and adipogenic efficiency were assessed by flow cytometry. Results: In undifferentiated ASC, IGF‐IR transcripts exceeded IR and were higher in S‐ASC than V‐ASC. Upon differentiation, IGF‐IR decreased in S‐ASC but remained unchanged in V‐ASC, whereas IR increased in both depots. S‐ASC displayed ~twofold higher IRa expression and greater insulin‐induced Akt activation. During adipogenesis, IR expression rose in both depots, with IRb exceeding IRa particularly in V‐ASC (+50%). In whole AT, IR exceeded IGF‐IR, and no depot‐specific differences were observed between IR isoforms. Adipogenic conversion was higher in S‐ASC (60%) than V‐ASC (20%). Only ~77% of S‐ASC‐ and ~61% of V‐ASC‐derived adipocytes expressed surface IR. Conclusions: Depot‐specific dynamics of IR isoforms may influence adipogenic capacity and insulin responsiveness and suggest partially receptor‐independent pathways of adipocyte differentiation.
SN - 1930-7381
SN - 1930-739X
ER -