Key result
3T3-L1 adipocytes lack basal norepinephrine and key NE transporters, indicating they are not an adequate model for perivascular adipocytes in studying norepinephrine handling.
3T3-L1 adipocytes are not an adequate model for studying norepinephrine handling in perivascular adipocytes.
Caution against 3T3-L1 use in perivascular norepinephrine research; leaves open validation of suitable alternative models.
Rat perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) stores, takes up, and releases norepinephrine (NE; Ayala-Lopez et al. (2014) Pharmacol Res Perspect 2, e00041). We hypothesized that 3T3-L1 adipocytes would exhibit similar behaviors and, thus, could serve as a model for PVAT adipocytes. However, basal levels of NE were not detected in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. While incubation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with exogenous NE increased their cellular NE content, the mRNA expression of several NE transporters [e.g., norepinephrine transporter (NET)] were not detected in these cells. Similarly, we observed expression of the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by qRT-PCR and immunostaining, but stimulation of the cells with tyramine (100 μm) did not cause a significant release of NE. These studies support that 3T3-L1 adipocytes are not an adequate model of perivascular adipocytes for studying NE handling.
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Ismail et al. (2016) studied this question. 3T3-L1 adipocytes vs. Perivascular adipocytes was evaluated on Norepinephrine handling and amine transporter expression. 3T3-L1 adipocytes lack basal norepinephrine and key NE transporters, indicating they are not an adequate model for perivascular adipocytes in studying norepinephrine handling.
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