Adipose Tissue Fibrosis: Mechanisms, Models, and Importance.

Megan K Debari,Rosalyn D Abbott

doi:10.3390/ijms21176030

Megan K Debari, Rosalyn D Abbott

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21176030

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Abstract

Increases in adipocyte volume and tissue mass due to obesity can result in inflammation, further dysregulation in adipose tissue function, and eventually adipose tissue fibrosis. Like other fibrotic diseases, adipose tissue fibrosis is the accumulation and increased production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Adipose tissue fibrosis has been linked to decreased insulin sensitivity, poor bariatric surgery outcomes, and difficulty in weight loss. With the rising rates of obesity, it is important to create accurate models for adipose tissue fibrosis to gain mechanistic insights and develop targeted treatments. This article discusses recent research in modeling adipose tissue fibrosis using in vivo and in vitro (2D and 3D) methods with considerations for biomaterial selections. Additionally, this article outlines the importance of adipose tissue in treating other fibrotic diseases and methods used to detect and characterize adipose tissue fibrosis.

Highlights

Fibrosis is characteristically defined as the thickening and scarring of tissues from a pathological repair process
While adipose tissue fibrosis has been investigated for several decades, there is still an incomplete understanding of causes, effects, and mechanisms
To address many of the open-ended questions surrounding adipose tissue fibrosis, in vitro and in vivo model systems should be carefully chosen to meet the needs of the research question

Summary

Introduction

Fibrosis is characteristically defined as the thickening and scarring of tissues from a pathological repair process. While often fibrosis is thought to occur following an injury, in adipose tissue changes in metabolism can trigger an inflammatory cascade that initiates the maladaptive fibrotic repair process. Lipolysis is the process in which triglycerides are catabolized into free fatty acids and glycerol that are released into the blood stream where they are used as an energy source by other organs [2]. An imbalance between these two processes leads to obesity and metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes [3]

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