Two Faces of White Adipose Tissue with Heterogeneous Adipogenic Progenitors

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolism journal Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. 752 - 762
• Main Authors: Hwang, Injae, Kim, Jae Bum
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Diabetes Association / Daehan Dangnyobyeong Hakoe 01.12.2019; Korean Diabetes Association; 대한당뇨병학회
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adipocytes; Body fat; Cell culture; Growth factors; Homeostasis; Hyperplasia; Insulin resistance; Metabolic disorders; Metabolites; Nervous system; Obesity; Regulation; Review; 내과학; Obesity; Energy metabolism; Inflammation; Adipose tissue; Stem cells; Adipogenesis
• ISSN: 2233-6079; 2233-6087; 2233-6087
• DOI: 10.4093/dmj.2019.0174

Chronic energy surplus increases body fat, leading to obesity. Since obesity is closely associated with most metabolic complications, pathophysiological roles of adipose tissue in obesity have been intensively studied. White adipose tissue is largely divided into subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). These two white adipose tissues are similar in their appearance and lipid storage functions. Nonetheless, emerging evidence has suggested that SAT and VAT have different characteristics and functional roles in metabolic regulation. It is likely that there are intrinsic differences between VAT and SAT. In diet-induced obese animal models, it has been reported that adipogenic progenitors in VAT rapidly proliferate and differentiate into adipocytes. In obesity, VAT exhibits elevated inflammatory responses, which are less prevalent in SAT. On the other hand, SAT has metabolically beneficial effects. In this review, we introduce recent studies that focus on cellular and molecular components modulating adipogenesis and immune responses in SAT and VAT. Given that these two fat depots show different functions and characteristics depending on the nutritional status, it is feasible to postulate that SAT and VAT have different developmental origins with distinct adipogenic progenitors, which would be a key determining factor for the response and accommodation to metabolic input for energy homeostasis.