Adipose tissue was initially considered an inert connective tissue filled with lipid that provided a supportive function in the body. This dull depiction of adipose tissue began to shift when studies during the 1950's supported the idea that adipose tissue was an active organ that could store excess energy [1]. Subsequently, work from 1960's established white adipose tissue (WAT) not only as a storage depot, but as an active site for the mobilization of energy in the form of fatty acids [2]. In contrast, brown adipose tissue (BAT), initially described as a gland-like organ [3], is a highly oxidative organ that can burn fatty acids to generate heat. The classification into brown and white is simplistic as adipose tissue is a highly plastic organ that can greatly expand in size or oxidative capacity. As such, white adipocytes can interconvert to brown-like adipocytes, termed beige...
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October 2020
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Cover Image
The cover image showing the crystal structure of human hemoglobin (PDB: 1GZX). For more information, see the article by Natarajan et al. (pp. 3839–3850). Artwork Image courtesy of C. Natarajan.
Editorial|
October 05 2020
Current and emerging roles of adipose tissue in health and disease
In Collection
Adipose biology
Emilio P. Mottillo
;
1Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, Michigan 48202, U.S.A
2Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48202, U.S.A
Correspondence: Emilio P. Mottillo (emottil1@hfhs.org) or Gregory R. Steinberg (gsteinberg@mcmaster.ca)
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Gregory R. Steinberg
3Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5
4Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5
5Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5
Correspondence: Emilio P. Mottillo (emottil1@hfhs.org) or Gregory R. Steinberg (gsteinberg@mcmaster.ca)
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
September 04 2020
Revision Received:
September 04 2020
Accepted:
September 08 2020
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society
2020
Biochem J (2020) 477 (19): 3645–3647.
Article history
Received:
September 04 2020
Revision Received:
September 04 2020
Accepted:
September 08 2020
Citation
Emilio P. Mottillo, Gregory R. Steinberg; Current and emerging roles of adipose tissue in health and disease. Biochem J 16 October 2020; 477 (19): 3645–3647. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20200718
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