title: Toxicological function of adipose tissue: focus on persistent organic pollutants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adipose tissue (AT) is involved in several physiological functions, including metabolic regulation, energy storage, and endocrine functions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this review we examined the evidence that an additional function of AT is to modulate persistent organic pollutant (POP) toxicity through several mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the literature on the interaction of AT with POPs to provide a comprehensive model for this additional function of AT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a storage compartment for lipophilic POPs, AT plays a critical role in the toxicokinetics of a variety of drugs and pollutants, in particular, POPs. By sequestering POPs, AT can protect other organs and tissues from POPs overload. However, this protective function could prove to be a threat in the long run. The accumulation of lipophilic POPs will increase total body burden. These accumulated POPs are slowly released into the bloodstream, and more so during weight loss. Thus, AT constitutes a continual source of internal exposure to POPs. In addition to its buffering function, AT is also a target of POPs and may mediate part of their metabolic effects. This is particularly relevant because many POPs induce obesogenic effects that may lead to quantitative and qualitative alterations of AT. Some POPs also induce a proinflammatory state in AT, which may lead to detrimental metabolic effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AT appears to play diverse functions both as a modulator and as a target of POPs toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Merrill
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emond
authors.forename: Min Ji
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Antignac
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le Bizec
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Birnbaum
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barouki
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009930:Organic Chemicals