Contribution of adipogenesis to healthy adipose tissue expansion in obesity

Area of Science:

• Metabolic Health
• Obesity Research
• Adipose Tissue Biology

Background:

• White adipose tissue (WAT) expansion and remodeling influence metabolic syndrome risk.
• Visceral WAT accumulation increases insulin resistance risk, while subcutaneous WAT expansion is protective.
• Pathologic WAT remodeling (hypertrophy, inflammation, fibrosis) correlates with insulin resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review human and rodent studies on adipose tissue expansion and remodeling in obesity.
• To highlight the role of adipogenesis in healthy WAT expansion.
• To discuss advances in understanding adipose stem cell populations and their role in adipogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent human and rodent studies.
• Analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data.
• Discussion of adipose stem cell biology and adipogenesis.

Main Results:

• Adipogenesis is critical for healthy WAT distribution and remodeling in obesity.
• Metabolically healthy obese individuals exhibit smaller, more numerous adipocytes with less inflammation and fibrosis.
• Single-cell RNA sequencing aids in identifying tissue-resident progenitor populations in WAT.

Conclusions:

• Adipogenesis is a key determinant of healthy adipose tissue expansion and remodeling.
• Understanding adipose stem cell biology can lead to strategies to prevent metabolic disease in obesity.
• Targeting adipogenesis may decouple obesity from metabolic dysfunction.