Adipocito marrón y beige
Distinction of white, beige and brown adipocytes derived from mesenchymal stem cells
Abstract
Adipose tissue is
a major metabolic organ, and it has been traditionally classified as either
white adipose tissue (WAT) or brown adipose tissue (BAT). WAT and BAT are
characterized by different anatomical locations, morphological structures,
functions, and regulations. WAT and BAT are both involved in energy balance.
WAT is mainly involved in the storage and mobilization of energy in the form of
triglycerides, whereas BAT specializes in dissipating energy as heat during cold-
or diet-induced thermogenesis. Recently, brown-like adipocytes were discovered
in WAT. These brown-like adipocytes that appear in WAT are called beige or
brite adipocytes. Interestingly, these beige/brite cells resemble white fat
cells in the basal state, but they respond to thermogenic stimuli with
increased levels of thermogenic genes and increased respiration rates. In
addition, beige/brite cells have a gene expression pattern distinct from that
of either white or brown fat cells. The current epidemic of obesity has
increased the interest in studying adipocyte formation (adipogenesis),
especially in beige/brite cells. This review summarizes the developmental
process of adipose tissues that originate from the mesenchymal stem cells and
the features of these three different types of adipocytes.