Mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes as a primary cause of adipose tissue inflammation

Chang Yun Woo, Jung Eun Jang, Seung Eun Lee, Eun Hee Koh, Ki Up Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adipose tissue inflammation is considered a major contributing factor in the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases. However, the cause of adipose tissue inflammation is presently unclear. The role of mitochondria in white adipocytes has long been neglected because of their low abundance. However, recent evidence suggests that mitochondria are essential for maintaining metabolic homeostasis in white adipocytes. In a series of recent studies, we found that mitochondrial function in white adipocytes is essential to the synthesis of adiponectin, which is the most abundant adipokine synthesized from adipocytes, with many favorable effects on metabolism, including improvement of insulin sensitivity and reduction of atherosclerotic processes and systemic inflammation. From these results, we propose a new hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes is a primary cause of adipose tissue inflammation and compared this hypothesis with a prevailing concept that “adipose tissue hypoxia” may underlie adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity. Recent studies have emphasized the role of the mitochondrial quality control mechanism in maintaining mitochondrial function. Future studies are warranted to test whether an inadequate mitochondrial quality control mechanism is responsible for mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes and adipose tissue inflammation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)247-256
Number of pages10
JournalDiabetes and Metabolism Journal
Volume43
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2019

Keywords

  • 11-Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases
  • Adipocytes
  • Adiponectin
  • Hypoxia
  • Inflammation
  • Mitochondria
  • Mitochondrial quality control
  • Nitric oxide
  • Obesity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes as a primary cause of adipose tissue inflammation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this