Adipose-tissue plasticity in health and disease

Cell. 2022 Feb 3;185(3):419-446. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.12.016.

Abstract

Adipose tissue, colloquially known as "fat," is an extraordinarily flexible and heterogeneous organ. While historically viewed as a passive site for energy storage, we now appreciate that adipose tissue regulates many aspects of whole-body physiology, including food intake, maintenance of energy levels, insulin sensitivity, body temperature, and immune responses. A crucial property of adipose tissue is its high degree of plasticity. Physiologic stimuli induce dramatic alterations in adipose-tissue metabolism, structure, and phenotype to meet the needs of the organism. Limitations to this plasticity cause diminished or aberrant responses to physiologic cues and drive the progression of cardiometabolic disease along with other pathological consequences of obesity.

Keywords: adipocyte; adipocyte progenitor; adipose tissue; beige fat; brown fat; diabetes; obesity; thermogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological*
  • Adipocytes, White / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Disease*
  • Health*
  • Humans
  • Thermogenesis