Satellite cells isolated from adult Hanwoo muscle can proliferate and differentiate into myoblasts and adipose-like cells.

This study examined whether adult bovine muscle satellite cells from 30-month-old Hanwoo cattle are multipotential. The satellite cells were found to have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into myoblasts with the formation of multinucleated cells. In addition, treatment with the peroxisome proliferator activating receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) agonist, rosiglitazone, promoted their trans-differentiation into adipocytes with significant increases in glycerol accumulation and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Western blot analysis revealed that increased levels of the adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, PPARgamma and of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein were closely related to rosiglitazone-induced differentiation of the cells. These findings demonstrate that satellite cells from adult Hanwoo cattle are multipotent, and that their trans-differentiation into adipocytes can be induced by rosiglitazone.