Adipocytes are the specialized cells that constitute adipose tissue and serve as the body's principal site for storing energy as triglycerides within lipid droplets. White adipocytes store and release fatty acids according to nutritional state, brown adipocytes dissipate energy as heat through thermogenesis, and bei…
Adipocytes are the specialized cells that constitute adipose tissue and serve as the body's principal site for storing energy as triglycerides within lipid droplets. White adipocytes store and release fatty acids according to nutritional state, brown adipocytes dissipate energy as heat through thermogenesis, and beige cells display intermediate features. Beyond energy storage, adipocytes are active endocrine cells that secrete adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin and a range of cytokines, thereby participating in the regulation of appetite, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. Adipogenesis, the differentiation of precursor cells into mature fat cells, and the balance between adipocyte number and size determine how adipose tissue expands and remodels. In obesity, enlarged and dysfunctional adipocytes contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and the metabolic disturbances that accompany excess adiposity, linking fat-cell biology to diabetes, cardiovascular risk, and the metabolic syndrome. Research connected to this topic explores the physiology of adipose tissue and its role in obesity, the interplay of glucose and insulin in regulating tissue enzymes, hormonal and thyroid influences on fat metabolism, the effects of fatty-acid supplementation on adipose inflammation, and antioxidant and micronutrient factors in metabolic health. These themes frame adipocytes as central regulators of whole-body energy balance and metabolic function.
11 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 11 articles above have been cited 53 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Adipocytes, linking to each citing work.