Forming functional fat: a growing understanding of adipocyte differentiation.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-28-2011
Abstract
Adipose tissue, which is primarily composed of adipocytes, is crucial for maintaining energy and metabolic homeostasis. Adipogenesis is thought to occur in two stages: commitment of mesenchymal stem cells to a preadipocyte fate and terminal differentiation. Cell shape and extracellular matrix remodelling have recently been found to regulate preadipocyte commitment and competency by modulating WNT and RHO-family GTPase signalling cascades. Adipogenic stimuli induce terminal differentiation in committed preadipocytes through the epigenomic activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). The coordination of PPARγ with CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) transcription factors maintains adipocyte gene expression. Improving our understanding of these mechanisms may allow us to identify therapeutic targets against metabolic diseases that are rapidly becoming epidemic globally.
Volume
12
Issue
11
First Page
722
Last Page
734
ISSN
1471-0080
Published In/Presented At
Cristancho, A. G., & Lazar, M. A. (2011). Forming functional fat: a growing understanding of adipocyte differentiation. Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology, 12(11), 722–734. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3198
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
PubMedID
21952300
Department(s)
Department of Pediatrics
Document Type
Article