The extracellular matrix protein SNED1 affects self-renewal, proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of human adipose stem/progenitor cells.

The fate of adipose stem/progenitor cells (ASCs) is influenced by the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the interaction between ASCs and components of the ECM in human white adipose tissue (WAT) is not precisely understood. The gene Sushi, nidogen and EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 (SNED1) encodes a secreted ECM glycoprotein of unknown function in AT. In the present study, we show that knockdown of the SNED1 expression in ASCs leads to a significantly reduced self-renewal and proliferation capacity; moreover, the adipogenic differentiation potential is reduced. Our data suggest that SNED1 contributes to a functional interaction between ECM and ASCs, which is important for stemness and commitment to proliferation and differentiation in adult adipose stem/progenitor cells.