Obesity is a chronic condition that leads to declines in health and quality of life, and is associated with a host of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, liver disease, cancers and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is strongly linked to lifestyle factors such as an increased intake of energy-dense foods, physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle. However, it has now become apparent that obesity is inherently more complex, where other factors such as genetics play a key role in an individual's propensity to accumulate fat mass. In addition, the type of expansion (hyperplasia or hypertrophy) and the anatomical location of the adipose depot, are now known to be key factors that affect metabolic health. This is emphasized by the evolutionary conferred sexual dimorphic differences in adipose expansion and disease risk between males and females. Understanding the physiology behind why, and by what mechanisms, adipose tissues contribute to disease is important for the prevention of obesity and chronic disease.
Adipose tissue is a highly dynamic, metabolically active tissue that is involved in a multitude of physiological processes, and as such, plays a fundamental role in health and disease. The objective of this research topic is to highlight the important systemic role that adipose tissue plays in metabolic homeostasis and disease pathology, by summarizing current knowledge and providing novel insights into adipose biology.
There are two primary types of adipose tissue: white adipose tissue (WAT), consisting of white and beige/bright adipocytes, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) consisting of brown adipocytes. Both WAT and BAT have distinct roles in maintaining energy balance and metabolic health, where WAT is the body's main depot for storing excess energy, whilst brown adipocytes accrue and burn lipid. Impairments to adipocyte function can lead to altered energy expenditure, ectopic lipid accumulation and inflammation, which is detrimental to overall health.
Improving our knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms that underpin dysfunctional adipose tissue in obesity and disease progression is becoming increasingly important, and could lead to the discovery of novel targets for the treatment of obesity and its complications.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide research articles that address adipose tissue distribution and function, including underlying mechanisms in relation to metabolic disease. We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, Perspective, and Opinion articles focusing on adipose biology and its role in obesity and metabolic diseases, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
1. WAT and BAT structure and function
2. Obesity
3. Protein expression, regulation & interaction
4. Genetics & epigenetics
5. Involvement in disease including: T2D, liver disease, CVD and cancer.
6. Therapeutic targets or their pharmacological modulation
7. Surgical procedures
The Guest Editors of this Research Topic encourage all interested researchers to submit an abstract before submitting their manuscript. However, abstract submission is not mandatory.
Obesity is a chronic condition that leads to declines in health and quality of life, and is associated with a host of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, liver disease, cancers and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is strongly linked to lifestyle factors such as an increased intake of energy-dense foods, physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle. However, it has now become apparent that obesity is inherently more complex, where other factors such as genetics play a key role in an individual's propensity to accumulate fat mass. In addition, the type of expansion (hyperplasia or hypertrophy) and the anatomical location of the adipose depot, are now known to be key factors that affect metabolic health. This is emphasized by the evolutionary conferred sexual dimorphic differences in adipose expansion and disease risk between males and females. Understanding the physiology behind why, and by what mechanisms, adipose tissues contribute to disease is important for the prevention of obesity and chronic disease.
Adipose tissue is a highly dynamic, metabolically active tissue that is involved in a multitude of physiological processes, and as such, plays a fundamental role in health and disease. The objective of this research topic is to highlight the important systemic role that adipose tissue plays in metabolic homeostasis and disease pathology, by summarizing current knowledge and providing novel insights into adipose biology.
There are two primary types of adipose tissue: white adipose tissue (WAT), consisting of white and beige/bright adipocytes, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) consisting of brown adipocytes. Both WAT and BAT have distinct roles in maintaining energy balance and metabolic health, where WAT is the body's main depot for storing excess energy, whilst brown adipocytes accrue and burn lipid. Impairments to adipocyte function can lead to altered energy expenditure, ectopic lipid accumulation and inflammation, which is detrimental to overall health.
Improving our knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms that underpin dysfunctional adipose tissue in obesity and disease progression is becoming increasingly important, and could lead to the discovery of novel targets for the treatment of obesity and its complications.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide research articles that address adipose tissue distribution and function, including underlying mechanisms in relation to metabolic disease. We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, Perspective, and Opinion articles focusing on adipose biology and its role in obesity and metabolic diseases, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
1. WAT and BAT structure and function
2. Obesity
3. Protein expression, regulation & interaction
4. Genetics & epigenetics
5. Involvement in disease including: T2D, liver disease, CVD and cancer.
6. Therapeutic targets or their pharmacological modulation
7. Surgical procedures
The Guest Editors of this Research Topic encourage all interested researchers to submit an abstract before submitting their manuscript. However, abstract submission is not mandatory.
