Inhibition of Notch Signaling Promotes the Differentiation of Epicardial Progenitor Cells into Adipocytes

Figure 6

DAPT treatment upregulated the transcription factor PPAR-γ. (a, b) The crucial adipogenic transcription factors PPAR-γ and the C/EBP-α were determined by immunofluorescence staining after EPCs were cultured in adipogenic induction medium alone, with jagged-1 or with DAPT for 7 days. (c) The mRNA expression levels of PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α were determined by RT-PCR. (d, e) The adipocyte markers FABP-4 and perilipin-1 were determined by immunofluorescence. EPCs were cultured in adipogenic induction medium with DAPT alone or combined with PPAR-γ antagonists. (f) Lipid droplet accumulation was determined by Oil red O staining. EPCs were cultured in adipogenic induction medium with DAPT alone or combined with PPAR-γ antagonists. (g) The mRNA expression levels of adipocyte-related genes FABP4, perilipin-1, leptin, LPL, and adiponectin were determined by RT-PCR. The values were calculated by -test between 2 groups and by ANOVA among 3 groups. , , and for pairwise comparison among the groups.