Not all fats are created equal: adipose vs. ectopic fat, implication in cardiometabolic diseases

Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig. 2015 Apr;22(1):7-18. doi: 10.1515/hmbci-2015-0006.

Abstract

Adipose tissue is a recognized endocrine organ that acts not only as a fuel storage but also is able to secrete adipokines that can modulate inflammation. Most of the fat is composed of white adipocytes (WAT), although also brown/beige adipocytes (BAT/BeAT) have been found in humans. BAT is located close to the neck but also among WAT in the epicardial fat and perivascular fat. Adipocyte hypertrophy and infiltration of macrophages impair adipose tissue metabolism determining "adiposopathy" (i.e., sick fat) and increasing the risk to develop metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this review was to search and discuss the available literature on the impact of different types of fat and fat distribution on cardiometabolic risk. Visceral fat, but also ectopic fat, either in liver, muscle and heart, can increase the risk to develop insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Results recently published showed that BAT could have an impact on cardiometabolic risk, not only because it is implicated in energy metabolism but also because it can modulate glucose and lipid metabolism. Therapeutical interventions that can increase energy expenditure, successfully change fat distribution and reduce ectopic fat, also through BAT activation, were discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipocytes, Brown / pathology*
  • Adipocytes, White / metabolism
  • Adipocytes, White / pathology*
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Antimetabolites / therapeutic use
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / etiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor / agonists
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Metabolic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Metabolic Diseases / pathology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Subcutaneous Fat / metabolism
  • Subcutaneous Fat / pathology*

Substances

  • Antimetabolites
  • GLP1R protein, human
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor