Adipose Tissue Core

Abstract/Summary - ATC Adipose tissue is composed of a wide range of cell types (e.g. adipocytes, fibroblasts, stem cells, leukocytes) that control the ability of adipose tissue to store nutrients and regulate metabolism. Obesity leads to qualitative and quantitative alterations in all AT cell types that depends on location in the body, metabolic state, and sex. The fundamental role of adipose tissue expansion in obesity requires investigators access to the reagents, techniques, and assays to evaluate adipocyte size, adipose tissue inflammatory tone, lineage relationships between cell types, metabolic function, and single-cell molecular characteristics in pre-clinical mouse models as well as human samples. The high lipid content of adipose tissue and the challenges in tissue processing limit the broad application of rigorous adipose tissue assessments in research studies leading to many gaps in the field of obesity research. The Adipose Tissue Core (ATC) was established to address these gaps and has assisted a range of investigators to incorporate adipose tissue assessments in their conceptual models and experiments. The aims of the ATC are (1) To consult with and help investigators on rigorous experimental approaches to investigate how adipocytes and stromal-vascular cells develop, function, and interact with other cell types, (2) To provide access to specialized techniques required for rigorous evaluation of adipose tissue biology, (3) To provide investigators with tissues, cells, databases, state-of-the-art assays, histological and other equipment, and animal models to study adipose tissues, and increase experimental rigor and reproducibility, and (4) To develop and implement new technologies for MNORC investigators interested in adipose tissue. ATC services are provided with oversight from experts in adipose tissue biology to ensure rigorous and reproducible application of state-of-the-art approaches to assess adipose tissue function in mouse and human samples.