The adipose organ: white-brown adipocyte plasticity and metabolic inflammation

Abstract

White adipocytes can store energy, whereas brown adipocytes dissipate energy for thermogenesis. These two cell types with opposing functions are contained in multiple fat depots forming the adipose organ. In this review, we outline the plasticity of this organ in physiological (cold exposure, physical exercise and lactation) and pathological conditions (obesity). We also highlight molecules and signalling pathways involved in the browning phenomena of white adipose tissue. This phenotypic change has proved to be effective in the protection against the metabolic disorders associated to obesity and diabetes, not only because brown adipocytes are more 'healthy' than white adipocytes, but also because the simple size reduction of white adipocytes that characterizes the first steps of transdifferentiation can be useful in determining how to avoid triggering death based on critical size and the consequent chronic low-grade inflammation due to macrophage infiltration. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of white-brown transdifferentiation can be extremely useful to exploit new therapeutic strategies to combat the increasing incidence of metabolic diseases.