Adipokines and obesity

Obesity is associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. Over the last decade, adipose tissue has emerged as a major player in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. It is now considered a major endocrine organ because of its size and secretion of numerous metabolically active molecules, collectively known as adipokines, which play a key role in regulation of energy homeostasis. In obesity, excessive and abnormal distribution of adipose tissue leads to the activation and recruitment of immune cells followed by release of pro inflammatory adipokines, which act both locally and in distant tissues (i.e., liver, skeletal muscle, endothelium, pancreas) to cause insulin resistance. Collectively, insert these abnormalities eventually lead to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, endothelial dysfunction with accelerated atherosclerosis, and overt cardiovascular disease. The number of newly identified adipokines continues to expand, whereas the relevance and specific function of each molecule remains to be fully elucidated. The understanding of intricate adipocyte biology and the underlying molecular basis of obesity and its complications will facilitate the development of novel preventive and more effective therapeutic regimens.