An amino-terminal fibronectin fragment stimulates the differentiation of ST-13 preadipocytes

A cloned preadipocyte cell line, ST-13, was used to study the effects of fibronectin (FN) and FN fragments on adipocyte differentiation. Fibronectin, an element of the extracellular matrix, has been known to regulate cell differentiation including adipocyte conversion. Results showed that FN in solution and as matrices inhibit differentiation of ST-13 preadipocytes, which can be reversed with GRGDPS cell recognition peptide or anti-alpha5beta1. FN fragments, on the other hand, stimulate preadipocyte differentiation.