Interferon-inducible protein 205 (p205) plays a role in adipogenic differentiation of mouse adipose-derived stem cells

The role of p205 in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation remains poorly understood. This study aimed to determine whether p205 is involved in adipogenesis of mouse adipose-derived stem cells (mASCs). p205 was largely induced in mASCs under adipogenesis in vitro. The mRNA and protein levels of p205 reached a maximum at day 4, and decreased at days 6 and 8. p205 localized almost exclusively in the nucleus of undifferentiated cells, but also translocated to the cytoplasm in intermediately and terminally differentiated cells. Although p205 suppression impaired mASC adipogenesis, its overexpression did not enhance the differentiation process. p205 co-localized with, and bound directly to, C/EBPβ and C/EBPα at day 4. Knockdown of p205 lowered the amount of p205 interacting with C/EBPβ or C/EBPα, further downregulating the transcription activities of C/EBPα and PPARγ. This suggests the importance of these transcription factors in the role of p205 in mASC adipogenesis.