Cholesterol suppresses adipocytic differentiation of mouse adipose-derived stromal cells via PPARγ2 signaling

[Display omitted] ► This is the first report on the association of cholesterol with adipocyte formation. ► Cholesterol accumulation adversely affects adipocytic differentiation of mASCs. ► The involvement of SREBP-1-mediated PPARγ2 in the effects of cholesterol was elucidated. The effects of cholesterol on cell proliferation and adipocytic differentiation have been evaluated for the first time in mouse adipose-derived stromal cells (mASCs). Cholesterol loading by using cholesterol:methyl- β-cyclodextrin (Chol:MβCD) complexes promoted cellular levels of free cholesterol (FC) and cholesteryl ester (CE), induced high cell proliferation of mASCs dose-dependently. Compared with control cells, cholesterol-treated mASCs showed an impaired differentiation process in both dose- and time-dependent manners, based on reduced oil red O-stained lipid droplets, SREBP-1, PPARγ2 and aP2 expression levels. The involvement of SREBP-1-mediated PPARγ2 in the effects of cholesterol on mASC adipogenesis was elucidated. These results point to cholesterol as a modulator of adipogenesis, which separate cholesterol itself from other components of modified lipoproteins.