SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) modulates interactions between cells
and extracellular matrix and is enriched in white adipose tissue. We have reported that
SPARC-null mice accumulate significantly more fat than wild-type mice and maintain
relatively high levels of serum leptin. We now show that SPARC inhibits adipogenesis in
vitro. Specifically, recombinant SPARC inhibited (a) adipocyte differentiation of stromal-
vascular cells isolated from murine white adipose tissue and (b) the expression of …