Department of Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2011 Oct 1;174(1):1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.06.018. Epub 2011 Jul 14.
The complexity of the anatomical distribution and functions of adipose tissue (AT) has been rarely analyzed in an evolutionary perspective. From yeast to man lipid droplets are stored mainly in the form of triglycerides in order to provide energy during periods when energy demands exceed caloric intake. This simple scenario is in agreement with the recent discovery of a highly conserved family of proteins for fat storage in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. However, the evolutionary history of organs such as the fat body in insects, playing a role in immunity and other functions besides energy storage and thermal insulation, and of differently distributed subtypes of AT in vertebrates is much less clear. These topics still await a systematic investigation using up-to-date technologies and approaches that would provide information useful for understanding the role of different AT subtypes in normal/physiological conditions or in metabolic pathologies of humans.
脂肪组织（AT）的解剖分布和功能的复杂性在进化的角度上很少被分析。从酵母到人，脂质滴主要以甘油三酯的形式储存，以便在能量需求超过热量摄入时提供能量。这种简单的情况与最近发现的一类高度保守的蛋白质家族相吻合，这些蛋白质家族用于在单细胞和多细胞生物中储存脂肪。然而，昆虫的脂肪体等器官以及脊椎动物中不同分布的 AT 亚型的进化历史则不那么清楚。这些主题仍然需要使用最新的技术和方法进行系统研究，这些研究将提供有用的信息，有助于了解不同 AT 亚型在正常/生理条件下或在人类代谢病理中的作用。
