p38MAP Kinase activity is required for human primary adipocyte differentiation

Little is known about the role of p38MAPK in human adipocyte differentiation. Here we showed that p38MAPK activity increases during human preadipocytes differentiation. Pharmacological inhibition of p38MAPK during adipocyte differentiation of primary human preadipocytes markedly reduced triglycerides accumulation and adipocyte markers expression. Cell cycle arrest or proliferation was not affected by p38MAPK inhibition. Although induction of C/EBPβ was not altered by the p38MAPK inhibitor, its phosphorylation on Threonine188 was decreased as well as PPARγ expression. These results indicate that p38MAPK plays a positive role in human adipogenesis through regulation of C/EBPβ and PPARγ factors.