ICAM-1 identifies preadipocytes and restricts white adipogenesis by adhering immune cells
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Adipose stem cell hierarchy was delineated by scRNA-seq analysis, revealing that ICAM-1, a glycoprotein that mediates cell-cell interaction, is a preadipocyte marker. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of how ICAM-1 + preadipocytes contribute to adipose tissue homeostasis in vivo remain unclear. To address this, Icam1 +/CreERT2 mice were generated, and it was demonstrated that ICAM-1-expressing progenitors actively participated in developing and remodeling white adipose tissue. Under a high-fat diet, both proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of ICAM-1 + preadipocytes increased significantly. Interestingly, ICAM-1 plays a critical role in maintaining the interaction between preadipocytes and immune cells, acting as a checkpoint on white adipogenesis. Mice lacking ICAM-1 specifically in stromal cells exhibited worsened hyperplastic obesity, showing heightened fatty acid synthesis and lipid storage in adipose tissue, and the related insulin resistance. In human adipose tissue, ICAM-1 also marked committed preadipocytes and mediated adhesion between preadipocytes and immune cells. Thus, our study shows that ICAM-1 marks preadipocytes and curbs adipogenesis by facilitating adhesion between preadipocytes and immune cells.
Source: Cell Death and Differentiation
Institutions: Soochow University, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Fudan University, Zhongshan Hospital, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, University of Münster, University of Rome Tor Vergata
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,790
OpenAlex ID: W4413140167