Fig. 4

GDF15-induced small adipocytes promote the AML cells growth by increasing the lipolysis. a RT-qPCR analysis of lipolytic genes (HSL and ATGL) in adipocytes treated with rhGDF15 or cultured alone. *P < 0.05. b The content of free fat acid (FFA) in the supernatant of adipocytes from indicated groups was detected using the colorimetric method. **P < 0.01. c CCK8 detection of the proliferation of THP-1 cells and K562 cells cultivated with conditioned medium of adipocytes (Ad-CM) or small adipocytes (sAd-CM) from the indicated two groups. The statistical difference was compared between sAd-CM group and Ad-CM group of these two leukemic cells. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Results shown are from three independent experiments. Values shown are the mean ± SEM. d Representative images showed the cell cycle of THP-1 cells and K562 cells treated with Ad-CM or sAd-CM. e Western blotting analysis of Cyclin D1, CDK2 and P21 protein levels in THP-1 and K562 cells treated with Ad-CM or sAd-CM. β-actin and GAPDH protein were used as internal controls for Western blotting analysis