Introduction
Structural features involved in remodelling of the AT depots
Variable | SAT vs VAT | BAT vs WAT |
---|---|---|
Adipogenic potential | ||
Adipogenic genes | Lower differentiation potential [106]a,d
| |
Anti-adipogenic genes | ||
MSC markers | Lower plasticity, mesenchymal stem cells [106]a,d
| |
Vascularisation | ||
Total vascular density | Lower compared with oVAT (obese) [110]b,c
| Higher [111] |
Capillary density | Higher than oVAT of (obese) [112]b,c
| |
Vascular sprouting | Greater [112]b,c
| NA |
Innervation | ||
Neurogenic factors | ||
Nervous network | NA | Greater number of noradrenergic parenchymal nerve fibres [115]a,c
|
Cellularity | ||
Immune cells | Lower haematopoietic population (CD45+) [106]a,c
| |
SVF (except APs) | Higher [71]a,d
| |
Adipocyte death/CLS | NA | |
ECM | ||
Tissue expression | Greater protein expression of type 1 collagen but lower level of laminin (b/c) and fibronectin (lean) [69]a,c
| NA |
Higher COL6A3 mRNA expression (lean/obese) [119]b,c
| ||
Secretion | Higher secretion of THSB1/2, type 1 collagen, SPARC, TIMP1. Lower secretion of laminin, type 6 collagen and TGFβ1 [120]b,c
| NA |
AT progenitors and development
SAT and BAT adipogenesis occurs during embryogenesis while VAT adipocytes preferentially differentiate postnatally. While BAT originates from paraxial mesoderm, WAT can have mesodermal and NC origins. White/brown adipogenesis can be reinitiated in adults in response to positive energy balance by differentiation of APs located within the vasculature. Whether the origin of a third class of adipocytes, ‘beige/brite’ adipocytes, is the result of white adipocyte trans-differentiation or differentiation of specific precursors is still a matter of debate |
Molecular and structural factors regulating adipogenesis
Adipogenesis and subsequent AT expansion require appropriate plasticity ensured by efficient remodelling of vasculature and ECM, both processes orchestrated by angiogenic/growth factors and ECM proteases. These processes are also influenced by the anatomical localisation and differentiation capacity of the precursor pools of the different AT depots |
Difference in AT plasticity between depots in obesity
Hypertrophy preferentially occurs in VAT, while hyperplasia is more characteristic of SAT expansion due to higher progenitor number and/or activity in both human and rodents. However, in chronic states of obesity it is common that SAT adipogenesis is impaired while VAT still expands and contributes to metabolic alterations. Although still controversial, some studies have reported the contribution of haematopoietic precursors to newly formed adipocytes in obesity |
Pathological regulation of adipogenesis
Adipogenesis is impaired in obesity as a result of a chronic fibro-inflammatory environment where the increase of cytokines and ECM proteins disrupts AP differentiation and promotes activation of fibrotic signalling. In addition, fibrosis mechanically limits tissue plasticity, contributing to metabolic alterations |