title: Adipose tissue: cell heterogeneity and functional diversity.
abstract: There are two types of adipose tissue in the body whose function appears to be clearly differentiated. White adipose tissue stores energy reserves as fat, whereas the metabolic function of brown adipose tissue is lipid oxidation to produce heat. A good balance between them is important to maintain energy homeostasis. The concept of white adipose tissue has radically changed in the past decades, and is now considered as an endocrine organ that secretes many factors with autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine functions. In addition, we can no longer consider white adipose tissue as a single tissue, because it shows different metabolic profiles in its different locations, with also different implications. Although the characteristic cell of adipose tissue is the adipocyte, this is not the only cell type present in adipose tissue, neither the most abundant. Other cell types in adipose tissue described include stem cells, preadipocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and endothelial cells. The balance between these different cell types and their expression profile is closely related to maintenance of energy homeostasis. Increases in adipocyte size, number and type of lymphocytes, and infiltrated macrophages are closely related to the metabolic syndrome diseases. The study of regulation of proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes and stem cells, and understanding of the interrelationship between the different cell types will provide new targets for action against these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Nutrició i Bromatologia, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, CIBER de Obesidad y Nutrición del Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: mesteve@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esteve Ràfols
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D050156:Adipogenesis; D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000166:cytology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines
keywords: Adipocinas; Adipocitos; Adipocytes; Adipokines; Brown adipose tissue; Células madre; Linfocitos; Lymphocytes; Macrophages; Macrófagos; Neutrophils; Neutrófilos; Preadipocitos; Preadipocytes; Stem cells; Tejido adiposo blanco; Tejido adiposo marrón; White adipose tissue