title: Endocrine and Metabolic Effects of Adipose Tissue in Children and Adolescents.
abstract: Adipose tissue is implicated in many endocrine and metabolic processes. Leptin was among the first identified adipose-secreted factors, which act in an auto-, para- and endocrine manner. Since leptin, many other adipose tissue factors were determined, some primarily secreted from the adipocytes, some from other cells of the adipose tissue. So-called adipokines are not only involved in obesity and its complications, as are insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and other components of the metabolic syndrome, but also in growth, reproduction, bone metabolism, immune response, cancer development and many other important biological processes. Research in the field of adipokines has revealed new insights into the physiological and pathophysiologal processes and opened new therapeutic possibilities. In the present article, a special emphasis is devoted to research in children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Centre Ljubljana, University Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Bohoriceva 20, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Primož
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kotnik
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Eythstr. 24, 89070 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fischer Posovszky
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Eythstr. 24, 89070 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wabitsch
keywords: adipokine; adipose tissue; child; endocrinology; metabolic syndrome; obesity