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Updated: Oct 10, 2026

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis
08:34

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis

Published on: June 3, 2016

Adipose cell apoptosis: death in the energy depot

A Sorisky1, R Magun, A M Gagnon

  • 1Department of Medicine and Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Loeb Health Research Institute at the Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Canada. asorisky@Lri.ca

International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders : Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|December 29, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays a role in adipose tissue growth. Research shows both mature fat cells and preadipocytes undergo apoptosis, influencing body fat.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Physiology
  • Metabolic Research

Background:

  • Apoptosis is crucial for maintaining mammalian tissue homeostasis.
  • Disruptions in apoptosis are implicated in diseases like cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.
  • The role of apoptosis in adipose tissue growth is an emerging area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent investigations on the role of apoptosis in adipose tissue growth.
  • To explore evidence of apoptosis in mature adipocytes and preadipocytes.
  • To understand how apoptosis influences adipose tissue cellularity, mass, and distribution.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing in vitro cell culture models.
  • Conducting in vivo studies in rodents and humans.
  • Analyzing changes in cell survival proteins like Bcl-2 and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) during adipogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports apoptosis occurring in both mature adipocytes and preadipocytes.
  • Preadipocytes exhibit increased resistance to apoptosis as they differentiate.
  • Levels of cell survival proteins, Bcl-2 and NAIP, rise during adipogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Apoptosis contributes to the regulation of adipose tissue cellularity.
  • Understanding apoptosis in fat cells is key to clarifying its influence on adipose tissue mass and distribution.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of apoptosis on metabolic health.

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