Sakaguchi Masaji
Department of Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
JMA J. 2024 Apr 15;7(2):172-177. doi: 10.31662/jmaj.2023-0218. Epub 2024 Mar 18.
Adipose tissues, such as white, brown, and beige tissues, play pivotal roles in maintaining energy balance and metabolic health. Whereas white adipocytes store energy, brown and beige adipocytes exhibit high energy expenditure owing to their distinct mitochondrial density and UCP1 expression. Dysfunction in these tissues contributes to metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Adipose tissue expansion through cell enlargement or increased cell numbers caused by excess energy storage in white adipocytes substantially influences metabolic health. In obesity, hypertrophic adipocytes trigger inflammation, fibrosis, and hypoxia, whereas smaller adipocytes exert favorable metabolic effects, contributing to insulin sensitivity. Brown and beige adipocytes consume energy for thermogenesis to maintain body temperature, contributing to metabolic homeostasis. The intricate interactions between brown adipose tissues and various organs, such as the liver and heart, highlight the systemic implications of adipose tissue functions. Understanding the complex underlying mechanisms may lead to the development of innovative therapies targeting metabolic disorders by modulating the functions of brown adipose tissue and its interactions with other physiological systems. In this review, we discuss insights into the mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of metabolism owing to abnormalities in adipose tissue remodeling. We focus on the endocrine functions of thermogenic brown and beige adipocytes and explore the interorgan interactions that influence whole-body metabolism.
脂肪组织,如白色、棕色和米色脂肪组织,在维持能量平衡和代谢健康方面发挥着关键作用。白色脂肪细胞储存能量,而棕色和米色脂肪细胞由于其独特的线粒体密度和UCP1表达而表现出高能量消耗。这些组织的功能障碍会导致代谢紊乱,如2型糖尿病和心血管疾病。白色脂肪细胞中因能量储存过多导致的细胞增大或细胞数量增加引起的脂肪组织扩张,会对代谢健康产生重大影响。在肥胖症中,肥大的脂肪细胞会引发炎症、纤维化和缺氧,而较小的脂肪细胞则具有良好的代谢作用,有助于胰岛素敏感性。棕色和米色脂肪细胞通过产热消耗能量以维持体温,有助于代谢稳态。棕色脂肪组织与肝脏和心脏等各种器官之间复杂的相互作用,凸显了脂肪组织功能的全身影响。了解其复杂的潜在机制可能会通过调节棕色脂肪组织的功能及其与其他生理系统的相互作用,开发出针对代谢紊乱的创新疗法。在这篇综述中,我们讨论了由于脂肪组织重塑异常导致代谢失调的潜在机制。我们重点关注产热棕色和米色脂肪细胞的内分泌功能,并探讨影响全身代谢的器官间相互作用。