Adipose tissue functions as a secretory organ, and a disturbance in the balance of secreted factors from adipocytes and macrophages leads to the development of metabolic syndrome.
Adipose tissue contains various types of cells that include preadipocytes and adipocytes. Studies have emphasized that (i) preadipocytes secrete factors involved in their own differentiation and (ii) adipocytes acquire the ability to communicate systemically with other organs (brain, liver, skeletal muscle) and locally with other cells (preadipocytes, endothelial cells and monocytes/macrophages). Adipocytes secrete proteins exhibiting either beneficial (leptin, adiponectin) or deleterious effects (angiotensinogen). Associated to the effect of secretory products from macrophages (cytokines), a disturbance in the balance between these various secreted factors leads to the development of a metabolic syndrome.
Gérard Ailhaud (Wed,) conducted a review in Metabolic syndrome. Adipose tissue functions as a secretory organ, and a disturbance in the balance of secreted factors from adipocytes and macrophages leads to the development of metabolic syndrome.