Differentiation of NIH3T3 fibroblasts into adipocytes induced by peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ2 expression

Objective To express mouse peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ2 (mPPARγ2) in NIH3T3 fibroblasts mediated by the recombinant retrovirus and study its function. Methods The mPPARγ2 gene was subcloned into retrovirus vector pGCEN to generate the recombinant pGCEN/mPPARγ2. Then it was packaged into PA317 cells and selected with G418. Viral supematants were harvested and then used to infect NIH3T3 fibroblasts. PPARγ activator 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) was used to induce the mPPARγ2-expressing NIH3T3 cells into adipocyte differentiation. Results The recombinant retrovirus pGCEN/mPPARγ2 was constructed, and the higher titers of the viral supematants were obtained. mPPARγ2 was expressed in NIH3T3 cells mediated by the recombinant retrovirus. Lipid accumulation obviously existed in these induced adipocytes which morphologically resembled mature adipocytes in vivo and expressed tissue specific adipocyte P2 (AP2) and Leptin genes. Conclusions An adipocyte differentiation model in vitro was successfully established. The work is the basis for further research on the molecular mechanism of adipocyte differentiation induced by PPARγ2.