Adipose Tissue Plasticity and Adipogenesis: From Cellular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Targets in Obesity

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Purpose of review This review provides an overview of adipose tissue plasticity and adipogenesis as central processes regulating adipose tissue expansion, remodeling, and metabolic function in health and obesity, highlighting their relevance as potential therapeutic targets. Recent findings Adipogenesis is a tightly regulated process involving the differentiation of adipose progenitor cells into mature adipocytes through coordinated transcriptional cascades, primarily driven by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) family members. This process is further modulated by multiple signaling pathways, including wingless-related integration site (Wnt), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and insulin signaling, which collectively regulate adipocyte differentiation and metabolic function. Under physiological conditions, the adipose tissue exhibits remarkable plasticity, with adipogenesis supporting lipid buffering capacity and tissue renewal. In obesity, however, chronic nutrient excess and hormonal dysregulation impair this process, favoring adipocyte hypertrophy, hypoxia, and chronic inflammation. These alterations disrupt adipokine secretion and promote ectopic lipid deposition, thereby contributing to metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and cardiometabolic disease. Adipose tissue plasticity and adipogenesis are cr

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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