Tumour necrosis factor-alpha in human adipose tissue -- from signalling mechanisms to clinical implications.
From its initial implication in the development of cachexia in the early 1980s, it is now almost 15 years ago that tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was first shown to be involved in the development of insulin resistance in obesity. Since the original findings in mice, a wealth of data has been obtained in a variety of settings and species. This intensive research has demonstrated both similarities and differences between rodents and humans regarding the molecular mechanisms and metabolic consequences of TNF-alpha overexpression. This review will focus on the role of TNF-alpha in human white adipose tissue with particular emphasis on its regulation of lipolysis - an important pathway in adipocytes which is linked to insulin-resistant phenotypes in obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
Rydén
M
M
Department of Medicine (H7), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. mikael.ryden@ki.se
Arner
P
P
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002100:Cachexia / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha