TNF-alpha Is Required for the Attraction of Mesenchymal Precursors to White Adipose Tissue in Ob/ob Mice
2009

TNF-alpha and Mesenchymal Precursors in Obese Mice

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Gálvez Beatriz G., San Martín Nuria, Rodríguez Carlos, Polidori Carlo

Primary Institution: Projech Science to Technology, Madrid, Spain

Hypothesis

Does TNF-alpha play a role in attracting mesenchymal precursors to adipose tissue in ob/ob mice?

Conclusion

The study concludes that TNF-alpha is necessary for the migration of mesenchymal precursors to adipose tissue in ob/ob mice.

Supporting Evidence

  • Ob/ob mice show a significant decrease in mesenchymal precursors in various tissues.
  • Injected mesenchymal precursors migrate primarily to the adipose tissue in ob/ob mice.
  • TNF-alpha levels are elevated in the adipose tissue of ob/ob mice, facilitating mesenchymal precursor migration.

Takeaway

In obese mice, a special type of cell called mesenchymal precursors moves to fat tissue, and this movement is helped by a substance called TNF-alpha.

Methodology

The study involved isolating mesenchymal precursors from various tissues of ob/ob and wild type mice and assessing their migration and differentiation.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on ob/ob mice, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other models of obesity.

Participant Demographics

The study used ob/ob mice, which are genetically modified to lack leptin, leading to obesity.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0004444

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