Autocrine and paracrine signaling regulating adipogenesis in white adipose tissue remains largely unclear. This study used single-cell RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and single nuclei RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) to identify markers of adipose progenitor cells (APCs) and adipogenic modulators in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of humans and mice. The study confirmed the presence of major cellular clusters and established sex and diet-specific dissimilarities in cell proportions. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-binding endothelial regulator (BMPER) was identified as a conserved marker for APCs and adipocytes in VAT. BMPER is required for adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and mouse APCs, establishing it as a positive modulator of adipogenesis.

Jacob D. Garritson, Jiabi Zhang, Alan Achenbach, Maroua Ferhat, Emile Eich, Chris J. Stubben, Paige L. Martinez, Anna R. Ibele, Keren I. Hilgendorf, Sihem Boudina