Abstract
BackgroundThe total body adipose tissue volume is regulated by hormonal, nutritional, paracrine, neuronal and genetic control signals, as well as components of cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions. There are no known locally acting homeostatic mechanisms by which growing adipose tissue might adapt its volume.Presentation of the hypothesisMechanosensitivity has been demonstrated by mesenchymal cells in tissue culture. Adipocyte differentiation has been shown to be inhibited by stretching in vitro, and a pathway for the response has been elucidated. In humans, intermittent stretching of skin for reconstructional purposes leads to thinning of adipose tissue and thickening of epidermis – findings matching those observed in vitro in response to mechanical stimuli. Furthermore, protracted suspension of one leg increases the intermuscular adipose tissue volume of the limb. These findings may indicate a local homeostatic adipose tissue volume-regulating mechanism based on movement-induced reduction of adipocyte differentiation. This function might, during evolution, have been of importance in confined spaces, where overgrowth of adipose tissue could lead to functional disturbance, as for instance in the turtle. In humans, adipose tissue near muscle might in particular be affected, for instance intermuscularly, extraperitoneally and epicardially. Mechanical homeostasis might also contribute to protracted maintainment of soft tissue shape in the face and neck region.Testing of the hypothesisAssessment of messenger RNA-expression of human adipocytes following activity in adjacent muscle is planned, and study of biochemical and volumetric adipose tissue changes in man are proposed.Implications of the hypothesisThe interpretation of metabolic disturbances by means of adipose tissue might be influenced. Possible applications in the head and neck were discussed.
Highlights
The total body adipose tissue volume is regulated by hormonal, nutritional, paracrine, neuronal and genetic control signals, as well as components of cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions
The total body adipose tissue volume may be determined by the rate of adipocyte formation, the number of adipocytes and their average volume
The assumption of locally controlled, mechanical homeostasis of adipose tissue is indirectly supported by the large body of evidence accumulated from studies of different types of mesodermal cells in culture [4], which show that mechanical stimuli cause direct stretching of protein-cell surface integrin binding sites in the plasma membrane, and by findings showing that changes in the local chemistry of the extracellular matrix induced by local movement may alter integrin structure and lead to activation of secondary messenger pathways within the cell
Summary
The total body adipose tissue volume is regulated by hormonal, nutritional, paracrine, neuronal and genetic control signals, as well as components of cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions. Testing of the hypothesis: Assessment of messenger RNA-expression of human adipocytes following activity in adjacent muscle is planned, and study of biochemical and volumetric adipose tissue changes in man are proposed.
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