Cell type of white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Mature adipocytes serve as energy stores and are able to secrete endocrine molecules that regulate metabolism. Hypertrophy of adipocytes promotes hypoxia in the WAT. It induces latent WAT inflammation, which is associated with metabolic disorders (Shuster A et al. 2012).
Adiopocyte
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The number of adipocytes in an individual's AT remains largely constant throughout life (Spalding KL et al. 2008). Obesity also does not lead to a numerical increase in adipocytes but to an increase in adipocyte hypertrophy.
This activates the ERK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, which leads to an increase in CCL2 expression in adipocytes. This contributes to macrophage recruitment and adipocyte apoptosis. The resulting release of triglycerides in turn activates the TLR4 receptors in macrophages, which activates the IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway and thus TNF-alpha secretion. Both triglycerides and TNF-alpha are crucial for the development of insulin resistance as they inhibit the IRS-1 signaling cascade and influence glucose uptake into the AT. Thus, an increase in WAT promotes the infiltration of proinflammatory immune cells, increased secretion of cytokines. The prognosis of related metabolic diseases is worsened.
Preadipocytes: Preadipocytes are the precursor cells of adipocytes. They play an essential role in adipogenesis. This is also related to the metabolic status and age of the test subjects. The adipogenic capacity of subcutaneous preadipocytes is higher than that of preadipocytes from visceral or omental adipose tissue. The number of differentiated preadipocytes is significantly higher in lean women than in obese women. Women with a higher degree of obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m2) are more susceptible to apoptosis stimuli than lean women with a lower degree of obesity (BMI < 35 kg/m2).
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Shuster A et al. (2012) The clinical importance of visceral adiposity: a critical review of methods for visceral adipose tissue analysis. Br J Radiol 85: 1-10
- Song Q et al. (2025) Crosstalk between white adipose tissue and skin: Unraveling its role in psoriasis pathogenesis (Review). Mol Med Rep 31:169.
- Spalding KL et al. (2008) Dynamics of fat cell turnover in humans.Nature 453: 783-787
- Tourniaire F et al. (2013) Chemokine Expression in Inflamed Adipose Tissue Is Mainly Mediated by NF-kappaB. PLoS One 8: e66515