Lipid remodeling of adipose tissue in metabolic health and disease

Abstract

Adipose tissue is a dynamic and metabolically active organ that plays a crucial role in energy homeostasis and endocrine function. Recent advancements in lipidomics techniques have enabled the study of the complex lipid composition of adipose tissue and its role in metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. In addition, adipose tissue lipidomics has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders and identifying bioactive lipid mediators and potential therapeutic targets. This review aims to summarize recent lipidomics studies that investigated the dynamic remodeling of adipose tissue lipids in response to specific physiological changes, pharmacological interventions, and pathological conditions. We discuss the molecular mechanisms of lipid remodeling in adipose tissue and explore the recent identification of bioactive lipid mediators generated in adipose tissue that regulate adipocytes and systemic metabolism. We propose that manipulating lipid-mediator metabolism could serve as a therapeutic approach for preventing or treating obesity-related metabolic diseases. Large-scale analyses of lipid composition and distribution in body fat (adipose tissue) have the potential to revolutionize the treatment and prevention of metabolic disorders associated with obesity. Yun-Hee Lee from Seoul National University, South Korea, and colleagues review the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying lipid synthesis, breakdown, and redistribution, both in healthy and diseased states. Advances in 'lipidomics', the analysis of the complete set of lipids and their reactions, have helped to illuminate the complex interactions between bioactive lipids and lipid-modifying enzymes. Such interactions play a critical roles in insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure, and other metabolic processes. The authors propose that the signaling pathways involved, along with the bioactive lipid mediators themselves, could serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and various obesity-related conditions.