Beta-adrenergic signals regulate adipogenesis of mouse mesenchymal stem cells via cAMP/PKA pathway

The adipogenic capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the involvement of β-adrenergic signals in lipolysis and thermogenesis have been well established. However, little is known about the development of β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) systems and the role of β-adrenergic signals in adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. In this study, we demonstrated that both the mRNA and protein levels of β2- and β3-AR were up-regulated following adipogenesis of mouse bone marrow derived MSCs. We also established that β-AR agonists negatively while antagonists positively affected MSC adipogenesis. Both the β2- and β3-AR were involved in MSC adipogenesis, with β3-AR being the predominant subtype. The effect of β-ARs on MSC adipogenesis was at least partly mediated via the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. These findings suggested that MSC is also a target for β-adrenergic regulation, and β-adrenergic signaling (major β3-signaling) plays a role in MSC adipogenesis.