Adipsin : regulation and dysregulation in obesity and other metabolic states

Publisher Summary Adipocytes are highly specialized cells and their functions in fuel storage and release are essential for nutritional homeostasis. These cells have evolved a complex and highly regulated biochemical machinery that permits them to store energy as fat and release this energy when needed in response to a diverse array of hormonal, neuroendocrine, and substrate signals. In addition to their role in normal physiology, the function of adipocytes is altered in a number of disease states. The major pathological states that involve the adipocyte are the obesities, an exceptionally common group of disorders defined most simply by the existence of increased adipose tissue mass. This chapter reviews numerous biochemical functions of the adipocyte that have been characterized in models of obesity. Many altered functions are observed because of changes in adipocyte cell size and number. Thus, the chapter highlights that an altered function of the cell, such as increased synthesis of lipoprotein lipase, might, under some circumstances, promote the storage of energy as fat.