Adipose tissue quality in health and disease.

摘要

The development of adiposity is characterized by an increased number and size of adipocytes. In addition to mass, also the quality of adipose tissue plays an important role in adipose tissue-related metabolic disease.A balanced amount of adipose tissue is generally maintained by processes that regulate the number and size of adipocytes. Adipogenesis refers to proliferation of adipo-cyte precursors and differentiation of these precursor cells into mature adipocytes. This process is, among others, regulated by a complex but well-characterized cascade of transcription factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR7) and CCAAT/enhan-cer-binding proteins (G/EBPs). Various other mechanisms, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and autophagy, may also contribute to the generation of a balanced amount of adipose tissue. Disturbances of these processes may lead to adipose tissue dysfunction and its undesirable metabolic consequences.