title: Mitochondrial function/dysfunction in white adipose tissue.
abstract: The role of mitochondria in white adipocytes has long been neglected due in part to their lower abundance in these cells. However, accumulating evidence suggests that mitochondria are vital for maintaining metabolic homeostasis in white adipocytes because of their involvement in adipogenesis, fatty acid synthesis and esterification, branched-chain amino acid catabolism and lipolysis. It is therefore not surprising that white adipose tissue function can be perturbed by altering mitochondrial components or oxidative capacity. Moreover, studies in humans and animals with significantly altered fat mass, such as in obesity or lipoatrophy, indicate that impaired mitochondrial function in adipocytes may be linked directly to the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and insulin resistance. However, recent studies that specifically targeted mitochondrial function in adipocytes indicated dissociation between impaired mitochondrial oxidative capacity and systemic insulin sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA sihem.boudina@hmbg.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Sihem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boudina
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D052438:Adipocytes, White / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress