Development of Versatile Human In Vitro Vascularized Adipose Tissue Model with Serum‐Free Angiogenesis and Natural Adipogenesis Induction

Many adipose tissue‐related diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, are worldwide epidemics. For studying these diseases, relevant human cell models are needed. In this study, we developed a vascularized adipose tissue model where human adipose stromal cells and human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells were cocultured with natural adipogenic and defined serum‐free angiogenic media for 14 days. Several different protocols were compared to each other. The protocols varied in cell numbers and plating sequences. Lipid accumulation was studied with AdipoRed reagent, relative cell number with WST‐1 reagent, gene expression of glut4, leptin, aP2, adiponectin, PPARγ and PPARγ2 with RT‐qPCR. Secretion of adiponectin, leptin and aP2 was analysed with ELISA. The immunostained vascular network was imaged with Cell‐IQ and area quantified using ImageJ. In this study, both angiogenesis and adipogenesis were successfully induced. Protocols produced strong lipid accumulation, good vascular network formation and induced adipocyte‐specific protein secretion and expression of studied adipocyte genes. Results showed that cell numbers and cell plating sequences are important factors when aiming at in vitro standardized tissue model. Presence of mature vasculature appeared leads to faster the maturation of adipocytes judged by the lipid accumulation and gene expression results. The developed vascularized adipose tissue model is simple to use, easily modifiable to suit various applications and as such, a promising new tool for adipose tissue research when, for example, studying the effect of different cell types on adipose tissue function or for mechanistic studies.