Mechanical interplay between adipose tissues and disease progression

Figures

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  FIGURE 1. Adipose tissues exist in almost all tissues and organs, constituting 9% to 18% of body weight in lean males and 14%–28% in lean females. Created with BioRender.com.

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  FIGURE 2. Most mammal adipose tissue cells include white, beige, and brown adipocytes, as well as stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells. White adipocytes are adapted to storing and releasing lipids, whereas beige and brown adipocytes are specialized thermogenic cells that can utilize dietary energy by generating heat. SVF cells are nonadipocytes in adipose tissues. Created with BioRender.com. UCP1, uncoupling protein 1.

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  FIGURE 3. The four primary mechanical stimuli within human organs are deregulated in the tumor microenvironment, including (1) increased solid stress, (2) increased interstitial fluid pressure, (3) altered extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanical properties, and (4) altered ECM microarchitecture. Created with BioRender.com. IL‐6, interleukin 6.

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  FIGURE 4. The four categories of mechanical cues in human organs and tissues are solid stress, interstitial fluid pressure, mechanical properties, and microarchitecture, which can be transduced via mechanotransduction and influence cell behaviors. Created with BioRender.com.

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  FIGURE 5. For cancers, cells within adipose tissues establish a detrimental cycle. They contribute to the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and adipokines, elevating the stiffness of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and fostering the progression, metastasis, and drug resistance of cancer cells. Simultaneously, this process can hinder adipogenic differentiation, trigger adipocyte dedifferentiation, and amplify adipokine secretion, further fueling cancer development. Created with BioRender.com. VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; MAPK, mitogen‐activated protein kinase.

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  FIGURE 6. The amount of bone marrow adipose tissue in the bone microenvironment is positively correlated with musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, while the mechanical loading caused by exercises can inhibit adipogenesis and promote adipose‐derived stem cells osteogenesis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that exercise suppresses marrow adipose tissue formation. Created with BioRender.com. MSC, mesenchymal stem cells; Pref‐1, preadipocyte factor‐1.

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  FIGURE 7. During heart morphogenesis, proper cell allocation and cardiac differentiation are dependent on the mechanical interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Changes in the ECM mechanical properties, such as myocardial fibrosis, induce ectopic lipid accumulation and the enhanced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Created with BioRender.com. ARVC, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy; EAT, epicardial adipose tissue; IL‐6, interleukin 6; PVAT, perivascular adipose tissue; TGF‐β1, transforming growth factor‐β1; TNFs, tumor necrosis factors; YAP, yes‐associated protein; LOXL2, lysyl oxidase Like 2; THBS2, thrombospondin 2; CTGF, connective tissue growth factor; NADPH, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; H2S, hydrogen sulfide.