Figure 2. Differentiation of ST2 cells into adipocytes in the presence of a PPARγ agonist is insulin- and SRA-dependent.

ST2 cells were transduced with either SRA expression vector (pMSCV-SRA) or empty control vector (pMSCV) and induced to differentiate by treatment with methylisobutylxanthine (M), dexamethasone (D) and troglitazone (T), without or with insulin (I). A, Oil Red O staining to identify triglyceride droplets. B, Expression of Fabp4, Pparg, Cebpa, and Adipoq (adiponectin) determined by RT-qPCR and normalized to Ppia (cyclophilin A). Results are mean ± S.D. relative to MDT-induced controls. Statistical significance was evaluated with Student’s t test, or ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s test: *p<0.05, **p<0.01 and ***p<0.001. Results are representative of three independent experiments.