Premium
TNF‐α and adipocyte biology
Author(s) -
Cawthorn William P.,
Sethi Jaswinder K.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.11.051
Subject(s) - adipose tissue , endocrinology , adipocyte , insulin resistance , adipokine , medicine , adipogenesis , lipolysis , lipogenesis , tumor necrosis factor alpha , biology , thermogenesis , dyslipidemia , insulin , obesity
Dyslipidemia and insulin resistance are commonly associated with catabolic or lipodystrophic conditions (such as cancer and sepsis) and with pathological states of nutritional overload (such as obesity‐related type 2 diabetes). Two common features of these metabolic disorders are adipose tissue dysfunction and elevated levels of tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α). Herein, we review the multiple actions of this pro‐inflammatory adipokine on adipose tissue biology. These include inhibition of carbohydrate metabolism, lipogenesis, adipogenesis and thermogenesis and stimulation of lipolysis. TNF‐α can also impact the endocrine functions of adipose tissue. Taken together, TNF‐α contributes to metabolic dysregulation by impairing both adipose tissue function and its ability to store excess fuel. The molecular mechanisms that underlie these actions are discussed.