July 9, 2018
Rising obesity rates worldwide have socio-economic ramifications. While genetics, diet, and lack of exercise are major contributors to obesity, environmental factors may enhance susceptibility through disruption of hormone homeostasis and metabolic processes. The obesogen hypothesis contends that chemical exposure early in development may enhance adipocyte differentiation, thereby increasing the number of adipocytes and predisposing for obesity and metabolic disease. Previously a primary human adipose stem cell (hASC) assay was developed to evaluate the effect of environmental chemicals on PPARG-dependent adipogenesis.