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Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis
Published on: June 3, 2016
Obesogens, stem cells and the developmental programming of obesity
1Departments of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2300, USA. blumberg@uci.edu
International Journal of Andrology
|March 1, 2012
Summary
Environmental obesogens, like tributyltin (TBT), can disrupt metabolic pathways, leading to increased fat accumulation. Prenatal exposure may pre-program individuals for lifelong obesity, even with healthy lifestyle choices.
Area of Science:
- Environmental health
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic research
Background:
- Obesogens are environmental chemicals that promote fat accumulation and obesity.
- Exposure during development can cause permanent metabolic changes, increasing obesity susceptibility.
- Examples include endocrine disruptors like excess estrogen or cortisol.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of environmental chemicals, specifically tributyltin (TBT), on obesity development.
- To explore the mechanisms by which obesogens like TBT induce adipogenesis.
- To discuss the role of epigenetic changes in obesogen-induced weight gain.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on environmental obesogens and obesity.
- Analysis of TBT's role as a model obesogen.
- Examination of molecular pathways including PPARγ activation and adipogenesis.
Main Results:
- TBT activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), stimulating adipogenesis.
- Environmental obesogens can induce epigenetic modifications.
- These changes may predispose individuals to weight gain and obesity.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal or perinatal exposure to obesogens like TBT can lead to increased fat storage.
- Epigenetic alterations caused by obesogens may result in a lifelong predisposition to obesity.
- Humans exposed to obesogens during development may be programmed for weight gain, complicating weight management.
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