Abstract
Numerous studies address the physiology of adipose tissue (AT). The interest surrounding the physiology of AT is primarily the result of the epidemic outburst of obesity in various contemporary societies. Briefly, the two primary metabolic activities of white AT include lipogenesis and lipolysis. Throughout the last two decades, a new model of AT physiology has emerged. Although AT was considered to be primarily an abundant energy source, it is currently considered to be a prolific producer of biologically active substances, and, consequently, is now recognized as an endocrine organ. In addition to leptin, other biologically active substances secreted by AT, generally classified as cytokines, include adiponectin, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, resistin, vaspin, visfatin, and many others now collectively referred to as adipokines. The secretion of such biologically active substances by AT indicates its importance as a metabolic regulator. Cell turnover of AT has also recently been investigated in terms of its biological role in adipogenesis. Consequently, the objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive critical review of the current literature concerning the metabolic (lipolysis, lipogenesis) and endocrine actions of AT.
Highlights
It is well known that adipose tissue (AT) is the largest energy reservoir of the body [1]
AT is known to be a producer of biologically active substances and is recognized as an endocrine organ, indicating a role for AT in the regulation of energy metabolism [1]
Sources of fatty acids (FAs) FAs can be taken up as free FAs (FFAs), which are transported in the circulation bound to albumin or can be obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of TAGs carried by lipoproteins such as chylomicrons and, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs), and to a lesser extent LDLs
Summary
It is well known that adipose tissue (AT) is the largest energy reservoir of the body [1]. Animal and human studies (both in vivo and in vitro), utilizing several methodological tools such as cellular and molecular physiological, pharmacological, and clinical setting approaches, have been utilized to investigate the functional role of AT. Such studies, in addition to clarifying the role of individual factors affecting metabolic control such as diet, exercise, disease, age, and stress, increased understanding of the repercussions of an increase or a decrease in adiposity in the body as a whole. There are two primary metabolic activities of white AT [1] They are lipogenesis (fatty acid synthesis and storage) and lipolysis (mobilization or hydrolysis of triglycerides). Glycerol is obtained as glycerol3-phosphate (G3P) from glycolysis, glyceroneogenesis, and phosphorylation of glycerol by glycerol kinase activity
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