Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Governing Adipogenic Differentiation

Adipose tissue is a special type of connective tissue that comprises stromal-vascular cells, committed preadipocytes, and mature adipocytes. Adipose tissue exhibits high plasticity and is capable of both rapid physiological expansion and reduction in response to dietary changes. Under normal conditions, an increase in adipose tissue volume occurs through hyperplasia, while tissue expansion in obesity results from hypertrophy of existing adipocytes. Adipose tissue cells not only store energy in the form of triglycerides but also secrete crucial adipokines, regulating the overall body metabolism. In metabolic syndrome and obesity, alterations affect not only adipose tissue morphology but also adipocyte renewal and differentiation as well as the hormonal and secretory functions. The fundamental mechanisms regulating cell renewal and differentiation in adipose tissue warrant detailed investigation to comprehend the metabolic processes in the entire organism, both under normal and pathological conditions. This review provides insights into the principal regulators governing the transcriptional program that controls adipogenesis, as well as the key signaling cascades that influence adipocyte differentiation.