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Updated: Apr 21, 2026
06:50
Isolation of Adipogenic and Fibro-Inflammatory Stromal Cell Subpopulations from Murine Intra-Abdominal Adipose Depots
Published on: August 16, 2020
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Ageing, adipose tissue, fatty acids and inflammation
Chathyan Pararasa1, Clifford J Bailey, Helen R Griffiths
1School of Life and Health Science and Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK, pararasc@aston.ac.uk.
Biogerontology
|November 5, 2014
Summary
Aging causes fat redistribution to ectopic sites, impairing metabolic function and increasing inflammation. This shift in adipose tissue is linked to insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease risk in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Metabolic science
- Cardiovascular science
Background:
- Aging is characterized by altered adipose tissue distribution, shifting fat from subcutaneous to visceral and ectopic sites.
- Ectopic fat accumulation, particularly in skeletal muscle, is associated with insulin resistance via lipid mediators like ceramide.
- Dysfunctional adipose tissue in aging impairs adipocyte differentiation, leading to reduced fat storage and ectopic fat deposition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between age-related adipose tissue dysfunction and metabolic health.
- To explore the role of ectopic adiposity and systemic inflammation in aging.
- To understand the contribution of free fatty acids, especially saturated fatty acids, to age-related metabolic disorders.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of adipose tissue distribution changes with age.
- Investigation of molecular pathways involved in adipocyte differentiation.
- Assessment of lipid mediators (ceramide, DAG) and free fatty acids (FFA) in relation to metabolic function.
- Correlation of visceral adipose distribution with cardiovascular disease risk markers.
Main Results:
- Aging leads to impaired preadipocyte differentiation, resulting in dysfunctional adipocytes and fat redistribution.
- Increased ectopic adiposity in skeletal muscle is linked to insulin resistance.
- Low-grade systemic inflammation, driven by proinflammatory cytokines, exacerbates adipose tissue dysfunction.
- Elevated systemic free fatty acids, particularly saturated fatty acids, are associated with increased insulin resistance, inflammation, and atherosclerosis risk.
Conclusions:
- Age-related adipose tissue dysfunction and ectopic fat accumulation contribute significantly to insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.
- Systemic inflammation and elevated saturated free fatty acids are key drivers of metabolic dysfunction and disease risk in older adults.
- Targeting adipose tissue function and mitigating inflammation may be crucial for improving metabolic health in aging populations.
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