Adipose tissue is mostly comprised of specific cells, the adipocytes, and of vascular stroma, and plays a key role in energy balance. Two main varieties of adipose tissue have classically been described: white adipose tissue (WAT), mainly involved in energy storing and energy utilization through the synthesis and degradation of triglycerides; and brown adipose tissue (BAT), specialized in energy dissipation as heat. The presence of an additional, special type of adipocyte in the WAT, defined as “beige/brite”, with structural and metabolic features that are inbetween those of the WAT and the BAT, has been recently described. In response to cold, WAT adipocytes may take on an “intermediate” cell morphology and function that resemble those of the brown adipocyte (a process termed “browning”, or catabolic remodeling of white fat). Promoting the browning of the WAT may be a new strategy in the treatment of obesity, aimed at reducing its expansion. Several recently identified molecules play a key role in the pathophysiology of adipocytes, and can be potentially useful targets in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes
Morphological and functional heterogeneity of adipose tissue: Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic relevance(Article) [L'eterogeneità morfo-funzionale del tessuto adiposo: Meccanismi di regolazione e rilevanza terapeutica]
De Caterina R.;Madonna R
2016-01-01
Abstract
Adipose tissue is mostly comprised of specific cells, the adipocytes, and of vascular stroma, and plays a key role in energy balance. Two main varieties of adipose tissue have classically been described: white adipose tissue (WAT), mainly involved in energy storing and energy utilization through the synthesis and degradation of triglycerides; and brown adipose tissue (BAT), specialized in energy dissipation as heat. The presence of an additional, special type of adipocyte in the WAT, defined as “beige/brite”, with structural and metabolic features that are inbetween those of the WAT and the BAT, has been recently described. In response to cold, WAT adipocytes may take on an “intermediate” cell morphology and function that resemble those of the brown adipocyte (a process termed “browning”, or catabolic remodeling of white fat). Promoting the browning of the WAT may be a new strategy in the treatment of obesity, aimed at reducing its expansion. Several recently identified molecules play a key role in the pathophysiology of adipocytes, and can be potentially useful targets in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetesI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
