[Adipose tissue: a subtle and complex cell system].
White adipose tissue (WAT) represents a large amount of all adult tissues. For a long time, it was considered as a poorly active, overgrown and undesirable tissue. It was mainly studied for its involvement in energy metabolism and disorders, as well as for its endocrine functions. WAT is composed of two main populations, matures adipocytes and stroma vascular fraction (SVF) that can be separated easily. The SVF contains two compartments, stromal and hematopoietic that have been recently characterized. The stromal population (or ADAS for Adipose Derived Stromal Cells) presents functional features of, as well as lineage relationship with, macrophages. These stromal cells, that are able to differentiate into adipocytes, also display endothelial potential, and could be considered as vascular progenitors. Differentiation of various adipose-derived cell subsets towards functional cardiomyocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, muscle, hematopoietic and neural cells was also obtained in vitro or in vivo. Adipose tissue thus appears as a complex tissue composed of different cell subsets that could vary according to the nature and the location of fat pads, or to the physiological or pathological status. WAT appears as a very plastic and heterogeneous tissue that is very easy to sample. This represents a great advantage when considering adipose tissue as a potential and suitable source of stem cell for cell therapy. Further investigations in this way have to lead to the emergence of new insights fundamental to progress in our knowledge of adipose tissue biology.
Cousin
Béatrice
B
IFR31, Institut Louis Bugnard, UMR 5018 CNRS UPS, BP 84225, 31432 Toulouse 4, France. cousinb@toulouse.inserm.fr
Caspar-Bauguil
Sylvie
S
Planat-Bénard
Valérie
V
Laharrague
Patrick
P
Pénicaud
Luc
L
Casteilla
Louis
L
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000502:physiology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological