Acetyl-CoA and Metabolite Fluxes Regulate White Adipose Tissue Expansion

Authors

Jessica B Felix
Aaron R Cox
Sean M Hartig

Publication Date

5-1-2021

Journal

Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism

DOI

10.1016/j.tem.2021.02.008

PMID

33712368

PMCID

PMC8035226

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-1-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Acetyl Coenzyme A, Adipocytes, Adipose Tissue, White, Animals, Humans, Lipid Metabolism, metabolite, lipid metabolism, adipose tissue, insulin, microenvironment

Abstract

White adipose tissue (WAT) depends on coordinated regulation of transcriptional and metabolic pathways to respond to whole-body energy demands. We highlight metabolites that contribute to biosynthetic reactions for WAT expansion. Recent studies have precisely defined how byproducts of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism affect physiological and endocrine functions in adipocytes. We emphasize the critical emerging roles of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites that connect lipogenesis to WAT energy balance and endocrine functions. These insights address how adipocytes use small molecules generated from central carbon metabolism to measure responses to nutritional stress.