Commercialization of Human Visceral Adipocytes

描述（由申请人提供）：美国正在经历肥胖和相关合并症（如II型糖尿病）的流行性上升。流行病学研究表明，这些合并症与内脏（腹腔内）脂肪沉积特别相关。为了阐明这种关联，必须向研究人员提供一个充分表征和性能测试的培养人脂肪细胞系统。本研究的目标是建立一种商业化的、新颖的、特征性良好的人内脏脂肪细胞培养系统。初步数据表明内脏脂肪细胞不同于皮下脂肪细胞，需要个体化培养和测定技术。第二阶段有三个具体目标。I.建立内脏前脂肪细胞向脂肪细胞分化的方案。二.开发一套必要的检测试剂盒，为培养的细胞提供质量控制检测。该试验还将作为利用内脏细胞系统的商业合同研究服务提供。三.对原代和培养的内脏脂肪细胞和前脂肪细胞进行表达谱分析，以验证培养的细胞系统。该研究的完成将导致一个商业上可获得的，性能测试，充分验证的培养人内脏脂肪细胞系统。该系统的可用性将为培养的人类内脏细胞的大规模筛选打开大门，更好地了解内脏脂肪在疾病发展中的作用，并为药物开发提供更快，更便宜的途径。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The US is experiencing an epidemic rise in obesity and related co-morbidities such as type II diabetes. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that these co-morbidities are specifically correlated with visceral (intra-abdominal) fat deposition. To elucidate this association, a fully characterized and performance tested cultured human adipocyte cell system must be made available to researchers. The goal of the proposed work is to develop a commercially accessible, novel, well characterized cultured human visceral adipocyte cell system. Preliminary data indicate visceral adipocytes are distinct from subcutaneous adipocytes, requiring individualized culturing and assaying techniques. Phase II has three specific aims. I. Establish a protocol for differentiation of visceral preadipocytes into adipocytes. II. Develop a suite of assays necessary to provide quality control tests for the cultured cells. The assays will also be offered as a commercial contract research service utilizing the visceral cell system. III. Perform expression profiling of primary and cultured visceral adipocytes and preadipocytes in order to validate the cultured cell system. The completion of the research will result in a commercially accessible, performance tested, fully validated cultured human visceral adipocyte cell system. Availability of this system will open the door for large scale screening in cultured human visceral cells, provide a better understanding of the roles visceral adipose plays in disease development and provide a faster and less expensive path to drug development.