The different colours and functions of adipose tissue: what's new?

Obesity represents a growing global health issue today. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the formation, growth, and function of adipose tissue is crucial in combating this disease and its associated complications, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In France, obesity is on the rise, particularly among young adults and children. In this review, we discuss the cellular composition of white adipose tissue, highlighting recent advances in the characterisation of various cell populations. We also explore the metabolic implications of body fat distribution, emphasizing the importance of brown and beige adipose tissues in metabolism regulation. These thermogenic tissues offer significant metabolic benefits, opening up promising opportunities in research and development of therapeutic strategies to address obesity-related metabolic disorders. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between cellular senescence and obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, along with new research in the field of intercellular communication and mitochondrial recycling. Finally, this review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the understanding of obesity at adipose cells level. (c) 2023 Societe francophone nutrition clinique et metabolisme (SFNCM). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.