CD24 is required for gene expression, but not glucose uptake, during adipogenesis in vitro

Abstract

CD24 is a cell surface receptor that actively regulates lipid accumulation in adipocytes in vitro. The goal of this project was to determine how CD24 regulates lipid accumulation. Glucose is a key substrate for de novo lipid synthesis but I found that the knockdown of CD24 did not alter glucose uptake during adipogenesis. Instead, it regulated the expression of 134 genes as determined by DNA microarray analysis. I validated the changes to four of these genes during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in vitro. I also found that these genes were dysregulated when primary cells from inguinal, but not epididymal white adipose tissue from CD24 knockout mice that were induced to undergo adipogenesis ex vivo. These data suggest that CD24 is necessary for select gene expression, but not glucose uptake, during adipogenesis. This new knowledge could help understand the regulation of lipid accumulation in adipocytes, and to develop alternative treatment strategies for obesity and lipodystophy.