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The adipose tissue plays a fundamental role in maintaining the energy balance in
mammals. During periods of high energy intake, the adipocytes store energy in the form of fat
(triglycerides), which can be mobilized as free fatty acids during energy
deprivation. Adipose tissue can no longer be considered only as a passive tissue that simply stores
energy. Some recent discoveries have made it evident that this is a very active endocrine tissue that secretes important molecules related to different processes such as the immune response
(TNFa) the regulation of food intake and expenditure of energy (leptin, Acrp30/adipoQ) and the vascular function
(angiotensin and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1). Alterations in the
growth, development and function of the adipose tissue might therefore be involved in the development of different pathologies such as
obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, hypertension and
atherosclerosis.
A deeper understanding of the adipose tissue (morphology, development-adipogenesis, role in the metabolism and in the regulation of body
weight, endocrine functions...) is needed for an adequate study of the underlying aspects in the development of
obesity.
Key words: Adipocyte. Adipogenesis. (C/EBP, PPARg, ADD1). Lipogenesis/lipolysis.
Leptin. TNFa. ASP. ACRP30/AdipoQ. Resistin.
Correspondencia:
Correspondencia:
M. J. Moreno Aliaga
Departamento de Fisiología y Nutrición
Universidad de Navarra
31080 Pamplona
Tfno. 948 425600
Fax 948 425649
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