Contribution of PGC-1α to Obesity- and Caloric Restriction-Related Physiological Changes in White Adipose Tissue

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)

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 α (PGC-1α) regulates mitochondrial DNA replication and mitochondrial gene expression by interacting with several transcription factors. White adipose tissue (WAT) mainly comprises adipocytes that store triglycerides as an energy resource and secrete adipokines. The characteristics of WAT vary in response to systemic and chronic metabolic alterations, including obesity or caloric restriction. Despite a small amount of mitochondria in white adipocytes, accumulated evidence suggests that mitochondria are strongly related to adipocyte-specific functions, such as adipogenesis and lipogenesis, as well as oxidative metabolism for energy supply. Therefore, PGC-1α is expected to play an important role in WAT. In this review, we provide an overview of the involvement of mitochondria and PGC-1α with obesity- and caloric restriction-related physiological changes in adipocytes and WAT.

Evidence level

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

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