Prone Adiposity

Early influences significantly impact our health and vulnerability to non-communicable diseases later in life, a phenomenon referred to as "fetal programming." This process is largely governed by epigenetic changes, such as variations in DNA methylation patterns that dictate gene activity. Children of mothers with gestational diabetes (GDM) are more likely to face obesity and metabolic disorders linked to adipose tissue dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Disruptions in adipogenesis, the process by which adipose cells develop from precursor cells, can lead to adipose tissue dysfunction, contributing to metabolic diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the precursors of adipose cells, are found not only in adipose tissue, but also in the umbilical cord, from which we can isolate them for our research questions. We suspect that the GDM environment in the womb reprograms fetal MSCs, influencing adipogenesis and the subsequent function of the mature adipose cells. Our research will explore this by studying adipogenesis of neonates from GDM-affected and healthy pregnancies, using MSCs from the umbilical cords. These MSCs will be cultured and differentiated in an innovative 3D cell culture system mimicking physiologic conditions. This process will enable us to examine epigenetic differences, functionality and lipid composition of the differentiated adipose cells. This interdisciplinary project is led by Ursula Hiden, who has longstanding expertise in investigating the influence of maternal metabolism on fetal programming on cellular basis. Collaborating partners Dominik Egger and Cornelia Kasper are specialists in adipogenesis and advanced cell culture methods and will oversee the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Evelyn Rampler, a leading scientist the field of lipidomics, will analyse lipid composition of these cells. The outcomes from this research are anticipated to provide new insights into how GDM influences the programming and function of adipose tissue. This research represents an important step towards understanding cellular mechanisms in adipose tissue dysfunction and obesity development.