In contrast to the classical view, considering adipose tissue to be an inert organ for storing energy as fat, it is now well acknowledged that adipose tissue is actually one of the largest and most dynamic organs, playing pivotal roles in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Adipose tissues are among the first to respond to alterations in nutritional status. Adipocyte metabolism is controlled by different hormones and disruption of this control can result in a variety of pathologies, ranging from obesity to lipodystrophies in humans and animal experimental models. Moreover, as an endocrine organ, adipose tissues are responsible for the synthesis and secretion of several hormones, that can act locally or crosstalk with other tissues.
The adipose tissue has gained increasing interest in the past decade, in both basic, translational, and clinical research and the pharmaceutical industry, owing to the realization that it serves as a commander of the whole-body metabolism. The processes of adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia are essential for correct cell function and metabolic control. Indeed, cytokines and chemokines produced by adipocytes during hypertrophy are crucially involved in the initiation and development of obesity-associated inflammatory responses and insulin resistance.
Adipose tissues have the capacity for new adipocyte formation from precursor cells. Moreover, adipose-derived stem cells have emerged as potential candidates for cell transplantation and tissues repair or replacement. Although much progress has been made towards the characterization of the role of regulatory factors affecting the various steps of adipocyte differentiation, maturation, and pluripotency, many aspects are still not fully understood and differences between species are being reported from fish to mammals.
This research topic aims at gathering reviews and research articles on, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Mechanisms that underlie adipocyte differentiation and its regulation
- Effect of adipocyte released factors on different cells/organs
- New molecules targeting adipocytes and affecting their function
- New signaling pathways involved in adipocyte signaling and function
- New insights on adipocyte pluripotency and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells molecular actions
- Molecular mechanisms of adipocytes cross-talk with different cell types
In contrast to the classical view, considering adipose tissue to be an inert organ for storing energy as fat, it is now well acknowledged that adipose tissue is actually one of the largest and most dynamic organs, playing pivotal roles in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Adipose tissues are among the first to respond to alterations in nutritional status. Adipocyte metabolism is controlled by different hormones and disruption of this control can result in a variety of pathologies, ranging from obesity to lipodystrophies in humans and animal experimental models. Moreover, as an endocrine organ, adipose tissues are responsible for the synthesis and secretion of several hormones, that can act locally or crosstalk with other tissues.
The adipose tissue has gained increasing interest in the past decade, in both basic, translational, and clinical research and the pharmaceutical industry, owing to the realization that it serves as a commander of the whole-body metabolism. The processes of adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia are essential for correct cell function and metabolic control. Indeed, cytokines and chemokines produced by adipocytes during hypertrophy are crucially involved in the initiation and development of obesity-associated inflammatory responses and insulin resistance.
Adipose tissues have the capacity for new adipocyte formation from precursor cells. Moreover, adipose-derived stem cells have emerged as potential candidates for cell transplantation and tissues repair or replacement. Although much progress has been made towards the characterization of the role of regulatory factors affecting the various steps of adipocyte differentiation, maturation, and pluripotency, many aspects are still not fully understood and differences between species are being reported from fish to mammals.
This research topic aims at gathering reviews and research articles on, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Mechanisms that underlie adipocyte differentiation and its regulation
- Effect of adipocyte released factors on different cells/organs
- New molecules targeting adipocytes and affecting their function
- New signaling pathways involved in adipocyte signaling and function
- New insights on adipocyte pluripotency and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells molecular actions
- Molecular mechanisms of adipocytes cross-talk with different cell types
