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Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 31051

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Andrea Frontini

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Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Interests: adipose tissue biology; brown adipose tissue; energy expenditure; lipid metabolism; obesity; diabetes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For all of you working on adipose tissue biology, recent years have been extremely exciting. New evidence has emerged in many aspects of the biology of this tissue and now it is clear that fat is a central organ in the regulation of whole-body energy homeostasis. The adipose tissues can be better defined as a multi-depot endocrine organ composed of unilocular white adipocytes forming pads of white adipose tissue (WAT), which mainly functions as energy reservoirs by storing lipids, and the multilocular brown adipocytes that aggregate in specific anatomical locations to constitute discrete depots of brown adipose tissue (BAT) which uses lipids for cold-induced adaptive thermogenesis. Besides these two cell types, especially in specific depots of the organ and both in rodents and in humans, are found brite/beige adipocytes with morphofunctional features that allow them to modify the phenotype and thus function differentially based on energy metabolism requirements. So, the whole organ can be “whitened” when there is a surplus of energy intake or we can observe massive browning of it in case of adrenergically drove heat production with increasing energy expenditure for thermoregulation. Furthermore, both WAT and BAT secrete various hormones, cytokines, and metabolites that control systemic energy balance by modulating various neuroendocrine functions acting on the central nervous system as well as in the metabolic activity of peripheral tissues. Nutritional status and enviromental stimuli drive dynamic remodeling of the whole adipose organ and the molecular mechanism undelying white, beige and brown adipocytes physiology are under intense investigation. Understanding the tissue- and fat depot-specific molecular details could pave the way to novel therapeutics to curb metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

This Special Issue aims to feature insights into WAT, BAT and beige adipocytes biology in the molecular mechanisms related to these cells/tissues in the physiological modulation of energy metabolism. We also welcome etiological mechanisms of adipose tissue-related metabolic disorders. Brief reports, communications, articles and reviews that include, but are not limited to, topics like adipose tissue crosstalk with other organs (neuroendocrine cue), BAT activation, browning, WAT expandability. In addition, we will consider articles addressing cellular heterogeneity in adipose tissues and the interaction between adipose resident immune cells and metabolic dysfunctions.

Dr. Andrea Frontini
Guest Editor

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Keywords

white adipose tissue
brown adipose tissue
brite/beige adipocytes
neuro-endocrine system
energy metabolism
obesity

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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17 pages, 7225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Browning of Mammary Fat Suppresses Pubertal Mammary Gland Development of Mice via Elevation of Serum Phosphatidylcholine and Inhibition of PI3K/Akt Pathway

by Limin Lang, Jisong Zheng, Shuyi Liang, Fenglin Zhang, Yiming Fu, Kaixin Deng, Fan Li, Xiaohua Yang, Junfeng Wang, Yuexiang Luo, Shilei Zhang, Xiaotong Zhu, Lina Wang, Ping Gao, Canjun Zhu, Gang Shu, Qianyun Xi, Yongliang Zhang, Qingyan Jiang and Songbo Wang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16171; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216171 - 10 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1350

Abstract

Mammary fat plays a profound role in the postnatal development of mammary glands. However, the specific types (white, brown, or beige) of adipocytes in mammary fat and their potential regulatory effects on modulating mammary gland development remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of the browning of mammary fat on pubertal mammary gland development and explore the underlying mechanisms. Thus, the mammary gland development and the serum lipid profile were evaluated in mice treated with CL316243, a β3-adrenoceptor agonist, to induce mammary fat browning. In addition, the proliferation of HC11 cells co-cultured with brown adipocytes or treated with the altered serum lipid metabolite was determined. Our results showed that the browning of mammary fat by injection of CL316243 suppressed the pubertal development of mice mammary glands, accompanied by the significant elevation of serum dioleoylphosphocholine (DOPC). In addition, the proliferation of HC11 was repressed when co-cultured with brown adipocytes or treated with DOPC. Furthermore, DOPC suppressed the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, while the DOPC-inhibited HC11 proliferation was reversed by SC79, an Akt activator, suggesting the involvement of the PI3K/Akt pathway in the DOPC-inhibited proliferation of HC11. Together, the browning of mammary fat suppressed the development of the pubertal mammary gland, which was associated with the elevated serum DOPC and the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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22 pages, 2115 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neurolysin Knockout Mice in a Diet-Induced Obesity Model

by Bruna Caprioli, Rosangela A. S. Eichler, Renée N. O. Silva, Luiz Felipe Martucci, Patricia Reckziegel and Emer S. Ferro

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15190; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015190 - 14 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1650

Abstract

Neurolysin oligopeptidase (E.C.3.4.24.16; Nln), a member of the zinc metallopeptidase M3 family, was first identified in rat brain synaptic membranes hydrolyzing neurotensin at the Pro-Tyr peptide bond. The previous development of C57BL6/N mice with suppression of Nln gene expression (Nln^-/-), demonstrated the biological relevance of this oligopeptidase for insulin signaling and glucose uptake. Here, several metabolic parameters were investigated in Nln^-/- and wild-type C57BL6/N animals (WT; n = 5–8), male and female, fed either a standard (SD) or a hypercaloric diet (HD), for seven weeks. Higher food intake and body mass gain was observed for Nln^-/- animals fed HD, compared to both male and female WT control animals fed HD. Leptin gene expression was higher in Nln^-/- male and female animals fed HD, compared to WT controls. Both WT and Nln^-/- females fed HD showed similar gene expression increase of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), a peptidase related to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) metabolism. The present data suggest that Nln participates in the physiological mechanisms related to diet-induced obesity. Further studies will be necessary to better understand the molecular mechanism responsible for the higher body mass gain observed in Nln^-/- animals fed HD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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23 pages, 5500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adipocyte-Derived Paracrine Factors Regulate the In Vitro Development of Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

by Żaneta Dzięgelewska-Sokołowska, Alicja Majewska, Adam Prostek and Małgorzata Gajewska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13348; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713348 - 28 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1289

Abstract

The mammary gland is composed of epithelial tissue forming ducts and lobules, and the stroma, composed of adipocytes, connective tissue, and other cell types. The stromal microenvironment regulates mammary gland development by paracrine and cell–cell interactions. In the present study, primary cultures of bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMEC) and bovine adipose-derived stem cells (bASC) subjected to adipogenic differentiation were used to investigate the influence of paracrine factors secreted by preadipocytes and adipocytes on bMEC development. Four types of conditioned media (CM) were collected from undifferentiated preadipocytes (preA) and adipocytes on days: 8, 12, 14 of differentiation. Next, bMEC were cultured for 24 h in CM and cell viability, apoptosis, migratory activity, ability to form spheroids on Matrigel, and secretory activity (alpha S1-casein concentration) were evaluated. CM derived from fully differentiated adipocytes (12 d and 14 d) significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cells in bMEC population and increased the size of spheroids formed by bMEC on Matrigel. CM collected from preadipocytes significantly enhanced bMEC’s migration, and stimulated bMEC to produce alpha S1-casein, but only in the presence of prolactin. These results confirm that preadipocytes and adipocytes are important components of the stroma, providing paracrine factors that actively regulate the development of bovine mammary epithelium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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14 pages, 3417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of DDI1 on Inducing Differentiation in Ovine Preadipocytes via Oar-miR-432

by Meilin Jin, Zehu Yuan, Taotao Li, Huihua Wang and Caihong Wei

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(14), 11567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411567 - 17 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1318

Abstract

Reducing fat deposition in sheep (Ovis aries) tails is one of the most important ways to combat rising costs and control consumer preference. Our previous studies have shown that oar-miR-432 is differentially expressed in the tail adipose tissue of Hu (a fat-tailed sheep breed) and Tibetan (a thin-tailed sheep breed) sheep and is a key factor in the negative regulation of fat deposition through BMP2 in ovine preadipocytes. This study investigated the effect of oar-miR-432 and its target genes in ovine preadipocytes. A dual luciferase assay revealed that DDI1 is a direct target gene of oar-miR-432. We transfected an oar-miR-432 mimic and inhibitor into preadipocytes to analyze the expression of target genes. Overexpression of oar-miR-432 inhibits DDI1 expression, whereas inhibition showed the opposite results. Compared with thin-tailed sheep, DDI1 was highly expressed in the fat-tailed sheep at the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, we transfected the overexpression and knockdown target genes into preadipocytes to analyze their influence after inducing differentiation. Knockdown of DDI1 induced ovine preadipocyte differentiation into adipocytes but suppressed oar-miR-432 expression. Conversely, the overexpression of DDI1 significantly inhibited differentiation but promoted oar-miR-432 expression. DDI1 overexpression also decreased the content of triglycerides. Additionally, DDI1 is a nested gene in intron 1 of PDGFD. When DDI1 was overexpressed, the PDGFD expression also increased, whereas DDI1 knockdown showed the opposite results. This is the first study to reveal the biological mechanisms by which oar-miR-432 inhibits preadipocytes through DDI1 and provides insight into the molecular regulatory mechanisms of DDI1 in ovine preadipocytes. These results have important applications in animal breeding and obesity-related human diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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27 pages, 5591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The ABA/LANCL1/2 Hormone/Receptor System Controls Adipocyte Browning and Energy Expenditure

by Sonia Spinelli, Vanessa Cossu, Mario Passalacqua, Jacob B. Hansen, Lucrezia Guida, Mirko Magnone, Gianmario Sambuceti, Cecilia Marini, Laura Sturla and Elena Zocchi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3489; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043489 - 9 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

The abscisic acid (ABA)/LANC-like protein 1/2 (LANCL1/2) hormone/receptor system regulates glucose uptake and oxidation, mitochondrial respiration, and proton gradient dissipation in myocytes. Oral ABA increases glucose uptake and the transcription of adipocyte browning-related genes in rodent brown adipose tissue (BAT). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the ABA/LANCL system in human white and brown adipocyte thermogenesis. Immortalized human white and brown preadipocytes, virally infected to overexpress or silence LANCL1/2, were differentiated in vitro with or without ABA, and transcriptional and metabolic targets critical for thermogenesis were explored. The overexpression of LANCL1/2 increases, and their combined silencing conversely reduces mitochondrial number, basal, and maximal respiration rates; proton gradient dissipation; and the transcription of uncoupling genes and of receptors for thyroid and adrenergic hormones, both in brown and in white adipocytes. The transcriptional enhancement of receptors for browning hormones also occurs in BAT from ABA-treated mice, lacking LANCL2 but overexpressing LANCL1. The signaling pathway downstream of the ABA/LANCL system includes AMPK, PGC-1α, Sirt1, and the transcription factor ERRα. The ABA/LANCL system controls human brown and “beige” adipocyte thermogenesis, acting upstream of a key signaling pathway regulating energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, and thermogenesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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12 pages, 1605 KiB

Open AccessArticle

APE1/Ref-1 Inhibits Adipogenic Transcription Factors during Adipocyte Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Cells

by Eun-Ok Lee, Hee-Kyoung Joo, Yu-Ran Lee, Sungmin Kim, Kwon-Ho Lee, Sang-Do Lee and Byeong-Hwa Jeon

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3251; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043251 - 7 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2377

Abstract

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) is a multifunctional protein involved in DNA repair and redox regulation. The redox activity of APE1/Ref-1 is involved in inflammatory responses and regulation of DNA binding of transcription factors related to cell survival pathways. However, the effect of APE1/Ref-1 on adipogenic transcription factor regulation remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of APE1/Ref-1 on the regulation of adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. During adipocyte differentiation, APE1/Ref-1 expression significantly decreased with the increased expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, and the adipocyte differentiation marker adipocyte protein 2 (aP2) in a time-dependent manner. However, APE1/Ref-1 overexpression inhibited C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, and aP2 expression, which was upregulated during adipocyte differentiation. In contrast, silencing APE1/Ref-1 or redox inhibition of APE1/Ref-1 using E3330 increased the mRNA and protein levels of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, and aP2 during adipocyte differentiation. These results suggest that APE1/Ref-1 inhibits adipocyte differentiation by regulating adipogenic transcription factors, suggesting that APE1/Ref-1 is a potential therapeutic target for regulating adipocyte differentiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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15 pages, 792 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Total Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Level in Abdominal Adipose Tissue as an Independent Predictor of Recurrence-Free Survival in Women with Ovarian Cancer

by Helene Salaun, Mathilde Poisson, Adeline Dolly, Flavie Arbion, Stéphane Servais, Jean François Dumas, Caroline Goupille and Lobna Ouldamer

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1768; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021768 - 16 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2367

Abstract

Prognostic factors for epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) are in particular clinical factors such as pathology staging at diagnosis (FIGO stages), genetic mutation, or histological phenotypes. In the present study, FIGO stage, tumor residue after surgery, and body mass index were clinical predictors of recurrence-free survival (RFS). Nonetheless, a number of studies support a lipid metabolism disorder in ovarian cancer patients. The objective of this pilot study was to explore whether fatty acid composition of adipose reflecting the qualitative dietary intake and fatty acids metabolism may be associated with RFS. Forty-six women with EOCs and six with borderline ovarian tumors between March 2017 and January 2020 were included in this prospective study at Tours university teaching hospital (central France). The patients involved in the present study are part of the METERMUS trial (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03027479). Adipose tissue specimens from four abdominal locations (superficial and deep subcutaneous, visceral (pericolic), and omental) were collected during surgery or exploratory laparoscopy. A fatty acid profile of adipose tissue triglycerides was established by gas chromatography. Fatty acids composition was compared among the four locations using nonparametric Friedman’s ANOVA test for repeated measures. Median follow-up of EOC patients was 15 months and patients’ RFS was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and log-rank test by separating patients into two groups according to median fatty acid levels. The content of long-chain saturated fatty acids (SFAs) was increased and that of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) decreased in deep versus superficial subcutaneous adipose tissue in EOC patients. Nevertheless, the content of total SFAs was ~28%, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) ~55%, PUFAs n-6 ~11.5%, and PUFAs n-3 about 1.3%, whatever the adipose tissue. When EOC patients were separated into two groups by median fatty acid content, total PUFAs (n-6+n-3) levels, whatever the adipose tissue, were positively and independently associated with RFS. RFS was about two times longer in EOC patients with high versus low total PUFA content (median survival: 12 vs. 27 months, p = 0.01 to <0.0001 according to the tissue). Content of total PUFAs (n-6+n-3) in abdominal adipose tissue (visceral and subcutaneous) are new prognostic factors in EOC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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19 pages, 5599 KiB

Open AccessArticle

FABP4 Controls Fat Mass Expandability (Adipocyte Size and Number) through Inhibition of CD36/SR-B2 Signalling

by Emmanuelle Berger and Alain Géloën

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021032 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3177

Abstract

Adipose tissue hypertrophy during obesity plays pleiotropic effects on health. Adipose tissue expandability depends on adipocyte size and number. In mature adipocytes, lipid accumulation as triglycerides into droplets is imbalanced by lipid uptake and lipolysis. In previous studies, we showed that adipogenesis induced by oleic acid is signed by size increase and reduction of FAT/CD36 (SR-B2) activity. The present study aims to decipher the mechanisms involved in fat mass regulation by fatty acid/FAT-CD36 signalling. Human adipose stem cells, 3T3-L1, and its 3T3-MBX subclone cell lines were used in 2D cell cultures or co-cultures to monitor in real-time experiments proliferation, differentiation, lipolysis, and/or lipid uptake and activation of FAT/CD36 signalling pathways regulated by oleic acid, during adipogenesis and/or regulation of adipocyte size. Both FABP4 uptake and its induction by fatty acid-mediated FAT/CD36-PPARG gene transcription induce accumulation of intracellular FABP4, which in turn reduces FAT/CD36, and consequently exerts a negative feedback loop on FAT/CD36 signalling in both adipocytes and their progenitors. Both adipocyte size and recruitment of new adipocytes are under the control of FABP4 stores. This study suggests that FABP4 controls fat mass homeostasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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16 pages, 3249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reduction of Obesity and Insulin Resistance through Dual Targeting of VAT and BAT by a Novel Combination of Metabolic Cofactors

by Sergio Quesada-Vázquez, Anna Antolín, Marina Colom-Pellicer, Gerard Aragonès, Laura Herrero, Josep Maria Del Bas, Antoni Caimari and Xavier Escoté

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 14923; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314923 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2189

Abstract

Obesity is an epidemic disease worldwide, characterized by excessive fat accumulation associated with several metabolic perturbations, such as metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. To improve this situation, a specific combination of metabolic cofactors (MC) (betaine, N-acetylcysteine, L-carnitine, and nicotinamide riboside) was assessed as a promising treatment in a high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model. Obese animals were distributed into two groups, orally treated with the vehicle (obese + vehicle) or with the combination of metabolic cofactors (obese + MC) for 4 weeks. Body and adipose depots weights; insulin and glucose tolerance tests; indirect calorimetry; and thermography assays were performed at the end of the intervention. Histological analysis of epidydimal white adipose tissue (EWAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) was carried out, and the expression of key genes involved in both fat depots was characterized by qPCR. We demonstrated that MC supplementation conferred a moderate reduction of obesity and adiposity, an improvement in serum glucose and lipid metabolic parameters, an important improvement in lipid oxidation, and a decrease in adipocyte hypertrophy. Moreover, MC-treated animals presented increased adipose gene expression in EWAT related to lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Furthermore, MC supplementation reduced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, with an increased expression of the glucose transporter Glut4; and decreased fat accumulation in BAT, raising non-shivering thermogenesis. This treatment based on a specific combination of metabolic cofactors mitigates important pathophysiological characteristics of obesity, representing a promising clinical approach to this metabolic disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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Review

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16 pages, 1462 KiB

Open AccessReview

Deciphering the Potential Role of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Disorders

by Nahyun Kim and Ha Youn Shin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9598; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179598 - 4 Sep 2024

Viewed by 911

Abstract

Obesity-related metabolic disorders, including diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cardiovascular disease, increasingly threaten global health. Uncontrolled inflammation is a key pathophysiological factor in many of these conditions. In the human body, inflammatory responses generate specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), which are crucial for resolving inflammation and restoring tissue balance. SPMs derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) such as resolvins, protectins, and maresins hold promise in attenuating the chronic inflammatory diseases associated with lipid metabolism disorders. Recent research has highlighted the therapeutic potential of n-3 PUFA-derived metabolites in addressing these metabolic disorders. However, the understanding of the pharmacological aspects of SPMs, particularly in obesity-related metabolic disorders, remains limited. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in understanding the role of SPMs in resolving metabolic disorders, based on studies in animal models and humans. These studies indicate that SPMs have potential as therapeutic targets for combating obesity, as well as offering insights into their mechanisms of action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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17 pages, 1616 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Free Triiodothyronine (FT3) Levels in Humans Depending on Seasonal Air Temperature Changes: Is the Variation in FT3 Levels Related to Nonshivering Thermogenesis?

by Alena A. Nikanorova, Nikolay A. Barashkov, Vera G. Pshennikova, Fedor M. Teryutin, Sergey S. Nakhodkin, Aisen V. Solovyev, Georgii P. Romanov, Tatiana E. Burtseva and Sardana A. Fedorova

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14052; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814052 - 13 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1845

Abstract

Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in regulating normal development, growth, and metabolic function. However, the controversy surrounding seasonal changes in free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels remains unresolved. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of variations in FT3 levels in relation to seasonal air temperatures in the context of current knowledge about its role in nonshivering thermogenesis. Ten eligible articles with a total of 336,755 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The studies were categorized into two groups based on the air temperature: “Cold winter”, where the winter temperature fell below 0 °C, and “Warm winter”, where the winter temperature was above 0 °C. The analysis revealed that in cold regions, FT3 levels decreased in winter compared to summer (I² = 57%, p < 0.001), whereas in warm regions, FT3 levels increased during winter (I² = 28%, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that seasonal variations in FT3 levels are likely to be influenced by the winter temperature. Considering the important role of the FT3 in the nonshivering thermogenesis process, we assume that this observed pattern is probably related to the differences in use of thyroid hormones in the brown adipose tissue during adaptive thermogenesis, which may depend on intensity of cold exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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22 pages, 1727 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Targeting GH and IGF-1 in the Management of Obesity: Insights from the Interplay between These Hormones and Metabolism

by Sarmed Al-Samerria and Sally Radovick

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(11), 9556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119556 - 31 May 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5556

Abstract

Obesity is a growing public health problem worldwide, and GH and IGF-1 have been studied as potential therapeutic targets for managing this condition. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive view of the interplay between GH and IGF-1 and metabolism within the context of obesity. We conducted a systematic review of the literature that was published from 1993 to 2023, using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases. We included studies that investigated the effects of GH and IGF-1 on adipose tissue metabolism, energy balance, and weight regulation in humans and animals. Our review highlights the physiological functions of GH and IGF-1 in adipose tissue metabolism, including lipolysis and adipogenesis. We also discuss the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of these hormones on energy balance, such as their influence on insulin sensitivity and appetite regulation. Additionally, we summarize the current evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of GH and IGF-1 as therapeutic targets for managing obesity, including in pharmacological interventions and hormone replacement therapy. Finally, we address the challenges and limitations of targeting GH and IGF-1 in obesity management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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26 pages, 1454 KiB

Open AccessReview

Approaches to Measuring the Activity of Major Lipolytic and Lipogenic Enzymes In Vitro and Ex Vivo

by Marek Wilhelm, Lenka Rossmeislová and Michaela Šiklová

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11093; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911093 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2952

Abstract

Since the 1950s, one of the goals of adipose tissue research has been to determine lipolytic and lipogenic activity as the primary metabolic pathways affecting adipocyte health and size and thus representing potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity and associated diseases. Nowadays, there is a relatively large number of methods to measure the activity of these pathways and involved enzymes, but their applicability to different biological samples is variable. Here, we review the characteristics of mean lipogenic and lipolytic enzymes, their inhibitors, and available methodologies for assessing their activity, and comment on the advantages and disadvantages of these methodologies and their applicability in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro, i.e., in cells, organs and their respective extracts, with the emphasis on adipocytes and adipose tissue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Understanding of Adipose Tissue Biology and Energy Metabolism)

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