title: Adipose tissue as a secretory organ: from adipogenesis to the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: Adipose tissue contains various types of cells that include preadipocytes and adipocytes. Studies have emphasized that (i) preadipocytes secrete factors involved in their own differentiation and (ii) adipocytes acquire the ability to communicate systemically with other organs (brain, liver, skeletal muscle) and locally with other cells (preadipocytes, endothelial cells and monocytes/macrophages). Adipocytes secrete proteins exhibiting either beneficial (leptin, adiponectin) or deleterious effects (angiotensinogen). Associated to the effect of secretory products from macrophages (cytokines), a disturbance in the balance between these various secreted factors leads to the development of a metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: ISDBC, centre de biochimie, UMR 6543 CNRS, laboratoire developpement du tissu adipeux, faculté des sciences, parc Valrose, 06108 Nice cedex 2, France. ailhaud@unice.fr
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ailhaud
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000502:physiology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D020738:Leptin; D000808:Angiotensinogen