Human Adipose Tissue Atlas v1.0 — Adipocytes

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Cell Metadata

Adipocytes

Ontology Term: adipocyteCL:0000136
Synonyms Terms that have the same, or nearly the same, meaning as the selected cell type.: white adipose cell, white fat cell, adipose cell, fat cell
Category Class of which the cell type is a subclass.: connective tissue cellCL:0002320
Ontology Assessment Disagreements with any aspect of the Cell Ontology.: —
Marker Gene Evidence Gene markers used by researcher to assign this cell annotation.: ADIPOQ, PLIN1
Canonical Marker Genes: ADIPOQ, PLIN1
Rationale: ADIPOQ and PLIN1 are established markers of mature adipocytes. ADIPOQ (adiponectin) is a hormone abundantly and selectively expressed by differentiated adipocytes and reflects their metabolic and endocrine function. PLIN1 (perilipin-1) is a lipid droplet–associated protein essential for lipid storage and lipolysis regulation, marking cells with mature adipocyte morphology. ADIPOQ and PLIN1 reliably identify differentiated adipocytes and distinguish them from stromal and progenitor cell populations.
Rationale DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01296-9

Ontology Term: adipocyteCL:0000136
Synonyms Terms that have the same, or nearly the same, meaning as the selected cell type.: white adipose cell, white fat cell, adipose cell, fat cell
Category Class of which the cell type is a subclass.: connective tissue cellCL:0002320
Ontology Assessment Disagreements with any aspect of the Cell Ontology.: —
Marker Gene Evidence Gene markers used by researcher to assign this cell annotation.: ADIPOQ, PLIN1
Canonical Marker Genes: ADIPOQ, PLIN1
Rationale: ADIPOQ and PLIN1 are established markers of mature adipocytes. ADIPOQ (adiponectin) is a hormone abundantly and selectively expressed by differentiated adipocytes and reflects their metabolic and endocrine function. PLIN1 (perilipin-1) is a lipid droplet–associated protein essential for lipid storage and lipolysis regulation, marking cells with mature adipocyte morphology. ADIPOQ and PLIN1 reliably identify differentiated adipocytes and distinguish them from stromal and progenitor cell populations.
Rationale DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01296-9