Cell biology

Biology

Adipogenesis

Endocrinology

Adipocyte

Internal medicine

Medicine

Obesity

Adipose tissue

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Obesity is characterized by increased adipose tissue mass and has been associated with a strong predisposition towards metabolic diseases and cancer. Thus, it constitutes a public health issue of major proportion. The expansion of adipose depots can be driven either by the increase in adipocyte size (hypertrophy) or by the formation of new adipocytes from precursor differentiation in the process of adipogenesis (hyperplasia). Notably, adipocyte expansion through adipogenesis can offset the negative metabolic effects of obesity, and the mechanisms and regulators of this adaptive process are now emerging. Over the past several years, we have learned a considerable amount about how adipocyte fate is determined and how adipogenesis is regulated by signalling and systemic factors. We have also gained appreciation that the adipogenic niche can influence tissue adipogenic capability. Approaches aimed at increasing adipogenesis over adipocyte hypertrophy can now be explored as a means to treat metabolic diseases. An increase in white adipose tissue is associated with obesity and reduced metabolic function. Interestingly, however, adipose tissue expansion through the generation of new adipocytes (adipogenesis), rather than through increasing adipocyte size, can prevent this metabolic decline. Thus, a better understanding of adipogenesis can inform new strategies to increase metabolic health in humans.

Adipogenesis and metabolic health