Abstract

MILAN CHAVEZ, Rebeca et al. Adipose Tissue, Just an Energy Storage?. Rev. Fac. Med. (Méx.) [online]. 2022, vol.65, n.3, pp.19-23.  Epub Aug 01, 2022. ISSN 2448-4865.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fm.24484865e.2022.65.3.03.

When food meets energy requirements, the body stores in the liver and in the muscle the excess of calories as glycogen and triacylglycerols in the adipose tissue. Morphologically and functionally, it is classified into white and brown tissues. Brown tissue has many large mitochondria and stores triacylglycerols in vacuoles and dissipates energy as heat; white tissue stores energy as lipid droplets that occupy most of the adipocyte’s volume. After food intake insulin is released, which causes GLUT4 externalization into the cellular membrane to absorb glucose. Chylomicrons or VLDL transport triacylglycerols to adipose tissue depots. During fasting, by the action of glucagon, enzymes are released that will degrade tri-, di- and mono-glycerols to release fatty acids. Adipose tissue releases pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as leptin and adiponectin that regulate appetite and satiety. AMPK is activated in response to a decrease in the cell’s energy and helps it to maintain its energetic balance. In the adipocyte, it promotes the degradation of triacylglycerols releasing fatty acids to be used as an energy source. More studies are needed to learn more about the function of adipose tissue as a regulator of the metabolism and not only as an energy storage.

Keywords : Adipocyte; brown adipose tissue; white adipose tissue; GLUT4; triacylglycerol; AMPK.

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