# Quantification of cell cycle re-entry during dedifferentiation of primary adipocytes in vitro

## TL;DR

This study shows that cell proliferation during dedifferentiation of mouse adipocytes is not observed, suggesting MPPs likely come from non-adipocyte cells.

## Contribution

The study provides the first direct quantification of cell cycle re-entry in dedifferentiated adipocytes using lineage tracing.

## Key findings

- No cell proliferation was observed in adipocyte-derived cells during dedifferentiation.
- Non-adipocyte cells in adipose tissue showed robust proliferation.
- MPPs obtained via ceiling culture likely originate from non-adipocyte cells.

## Abstract

Dedifferentiated adipose tissue (DFAT) has been proposed as a promising source of patient-specific multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs). During induced dedifferentiation, adipocytes exhibit profound gene expression and cell morphology changes. However, dedifferentiation of post-mitotic cells is expected to enable proliferation, which is critical if enough MPPs are to be obtained. Here, lineage tracing was employed to quantify cell proliferation in mouse adipocytes subjected to a dedifferentiation-inducing protocol commonly used to obtain DFAT cells. No evidence of cell proliferation in adipocyte-derived cells was observed, in contrast to the robust proliferation of non-adipocyte cells present in adipose tissue. We conclude that proliferative MPPs derived using the ceiling culture method most likely arise from non-adipocyte cells in adipose tissue.