Physiological role of adipose tissue: white adipose tissue as an endocrine and secretory organ

The traditional role attributed to white adipose tissue is energy storage, fatty acids being released when fuel is required. The metabolic role of white fat is, however, complex. For example, the tissue is needed for normal glucose homeostasis and a role in inflammatory processes has been proposed....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2001-08, Vol.60 (3), p.329-339
Main Authors: Trayhurn, Paul, Beattie, John H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipocytes
adiponectin
Adipose Tissue - physiology
adiposity
angiotensinogen
Animals
antioxidants
Body fat
cachexia
complement
Cytokines
Cytokines - biosynthesis
Cytokines - physiology
diabetes
Endocrine Glands - physiology
energy balance
Energy Metabolism - physiology
fasting
Fatty acids
glucose
hemostasis
Homeostasis
Hormones
Hormones - biosynthesis
Hormones - metabolism
Hormones - physiology
Humans
insulin resistance
interleukin-6
leptin
Leptin - metabolism
Leptin - physiology
lipid metabolism
Metabolism
metallothionein
Nutrition research
Obesity
Obesity - physiopathology
Paracrine Communication
Physiology
plasminogen activator
Protein Biosynthesis
Proteins
Proteins - physiology
resistin
retinol-binding protein
Steroids
stress response
Symposium on ‘New perspectives on adipose tissue function’
Tumor necrosis factor-TNF
white adipose tissue
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Summary:The traditional role attributed to white adipose tissue is energy storage, fatty acids being released when fuel is required. The metabolic role of white fat is, however, complex. For example, the tissue is needed for normal glucose homeostasis and a role in inflammatory processes has been proposed. A radical change in perspective followed the discovery of leptin; this critical hormone in energy balance is produced principally by white fat, giving the tissue an endocrine function. Leptin is one of a number of proteins secreted from white adipocytes, which include angiotensinogen, adipsin, acylation-stimulating protein, adiponectin, retinol-binding protein, tumour neorosis factor a, interleukin 6, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and tissue factor. Some of these proteins are inflammatory cytokines, some play a role in lipid metabolism, while others are involved in vascular haemostasis or the complement system. The effects of specific proteins may be autocrine or paracrine, or the site of action may be distant from adipose tissue. The most recently described adipocyte secretory proteins are fasting-induced adipose factor, a fibrinogen–angiopoietin-related protein, metallothionein and resistin. Resistin is an adipose tissue-specific factor which is reported to induce insulin resistance, linking diabetes to obesity. Metallothionein is a metal-binding and stress-response protein which may have an antioxidant role. The key challenges in establishing the secretory functions of white fat are to identify the complement of secreted proteins, to establish the role of each secreted protein, and to assess the pathophysiological consequences of changes in adipocyte protein production with alterations in adiposity (obesity, fasting, cachexia). There is already considerable evidence of links between increased production of some adipocyte factors and the metabolic and cardiovascular complications of obesity. In essence, white adipose tissue is a major secretory and endocrine organ involved in a range of functions beyond simple fat storage.
ISSN:0029-6651
1475-2719
DOI:10.1079/PNS200194