ADAM 12 induces actin cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix reorganization during early adipocyte differentiation by regulating β 1 integrin function

Adult stem cells and progenitor cells can integrate and respond to appropriate extracellular stimuli in the form of hormones and growth factors, or contact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and neighboring cells. The delicate balance between the dormancy of progenitor cells and their timely proliferation and differentiation is a crucial parameter in tissue homeostasis that is often perturbed in disease. In vitro studies and animal implant experiments have revealed the multipotential nature of mesenchymal stem cells, which contribute to the regeneration of mesenchymal tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, stroma and adipose tissues (Pittenger et al., 1999; Prockop, 1997). Adipogenesis is a complex process characterized by the strict temporal regulation of multiple and interacting signaling events that ultimately lead to the expression of adipocyte-specific genes (Gregoire et al., 1998; Rosen and Spiegelman,