Hydrogen Sulfide Promotes Adipocyte Differentiation, Hyperplasia, and Hypertrophy

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is endogenously produced in adipocytes and fat tissues and stimulates adipogenesis. The integrated pathogenic effects of H2S on the development of obesity and the underlying mechanisms, however, have been unclear. Here, we find that a decreased endogenous H2S level lowered lipid accumulation in mouse adipocytes. Exogenous H2S treatment significantly increased the adipogenesis of primary mouse preadipocytes after six days of adipogenic induction. In the early phase of adipogenesis, H2S increased cell proliferation and prepared cells to go through hyperplasia. After H2S treatment for ten days, preadipocytes exhibited significantly greater cell surface area and diameter, indicating cell hypertrophy. Although it stimulated lipid accumulation and adipogenesis, H2S had no effect on lipolysis. With nutrition overload and high glucose/insulin incubation, H2S further stimulated glucose consumption and deteriorated adipocyte hypertrophy. H2S upregulated hyperplasia genes (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPβ), cell division cycle 25 (Cdc25), minichromosome maintenance 3 (Mcm3), and cell division cycle 45 (Cdc45)) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 protein (Cdk2), which regulates cell proliferation. H2S also upregulated the insulin receptor β (Irβ)-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) pathways, leading to adipogenesis. In conclusion, H2S increases adipocyte differentiation, hypertrophy, and hyperplasia, implying that it plays a pathogenic role in obesity disorder.