Adipose tissue: a regulator of inflammation

• Published in: Baillière's best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 547 - 566
• Main Authors: Juge-Aubry, Cristiana E., Henrichot, Elvire, Meier, Christoph A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2005
• Subjects: Adiponectin - physiology; adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - physiology; Animals; chemokines; Chemokines - physiology; cytokines; Cytokines - physiology; food intake; Glucose - metabolism; Humans; Inflammation - physiopathology; insulin sensitivity; interleukins; Leptin - physiology; Lipid Metabolism - physiology; Mice; Resistin - physiology; adipose tissue; insulin sensitivity; cytokines; chemokines; food intake; interleukins
• ISSN: 1521-690X; 1878-1594
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2005.07.009

Adipose tissue is a highly active organ. In addition to storing calories as triglycerides, it also secretes a large variety of proteins, including cytokines, chemokines and hormone-like factors, such as leptin, adiponectin and resistin. Intriguingly, many, if not most, of these adipose-derived proteins have dual actions; cytokines have both immunomodulatory functions and act as systemic or auto-/paracrine regulators of metabolism, while proteins such as leptin and adiponectin are regulators of both metabolism and inflammation. The production of pro-atherogenic chemokines by adipose tissue is of particular interest since their local secretion, e.g. by perivascular adipose depots, may provide a novel mechanistic link between obesity and the associated vascular complications.