Angiotensinogen, adipocyte differentiation and fat mass enlargement.
OBJECTIVE
Angiotensinogen and components of the renin-angiotensin system are expressed in adipose tissue of rodents and humans, but the role of generated angiotensin II has remained intriguing. Moreover, the functional importance of angiotensin II receptor subtypes in preadipocytes and adipocytes still remains a controversial subject.


RESULTS
Recent findings in transgenic mice have emphasized the upregulation of angiotensinogen expression by glucocorticoids. Furthermore, angiotensinogen products, that is angiotensin II and possibly angiotensin II-related products, have been found to act locally in modulating adipose tissue growth in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Cellularity measurements show that fat mass enlargement is associated with adipocyte hypertrophy, consistent with the upregulation of the fatty acid synthetase gene by angiotensin II depicted at the molecular level. Together, these findings suggest a mechanism by which transient or chronic overexpression of angiotensinogen in adipose tissue favors lipogenesis in adipocytes and leads to a 'vicious' circle whereby adipose tissue development is further increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Additional studies are warranted to characterize angiotensin II-related receptors, if any, and to clarify the role played by angiotensin II receptor subtypes and metabolites in various metabolic aspects of white adipose tissue.
Ailhaud
Gérard
G
Institute of Signaling, Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Centre de Biochimie (UMR 6543 CNRS), Laboratory Biology of Adipose Tissue Development, Faculté des Sciences, Parc Valrose, Nice, France. ailhaud@unice.fr
Teboul
Michèle
M
Massiera
Florence
F
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000378:metabolism; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000378:metabolism
D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000808:Angiotensinogen; D000804:Angiotensin II