skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes: the effects of fatty tissue inflammation

Review

(3991) Views  (1443) Full article downloads

Authors: Dara P Schuster

Published Date July 2010 Volume 2010:3 Pages 253 - 262
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S7354

Dara P Schuster

Departments of Internal Medicine and Surgery, Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Ohio State University Hospitals and Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Abstract: Obesity is a worldwide epidemic with multiple obesity-associated health problems including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Adipose tissue serves as a fuel storage depot, but also plays a pivotal role in homeostasis of energy expenditure, appetite regulation, glucose regulation, and immunity. Both genetics and environment play important roles in adipose tissue function and dysfunction. Obesity represents an abnormal accumulation of adipose tissue resulting from chronic overnutrition and reduced physical activity. The nature of this increased accumulation of fat tissue, whether hyperplasia or hypertrophy, local or ectopic, is associated with deleterious perturbations including excess fatty acid secretion, increased production of inflammatory cytokines, and abnormal adipocyte hormone signaling resulting in insulin resistance. In the setting of obesity, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation is postulated to play a role in development of type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related comorbidities including obstructive sleep apnea, hepatic steatosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Although the exact mechanism of these relationships are complex and not completely understood, the ability to store and limit fatty acid deposition to adipose tissue is a common component to remaining insulin sensitive, controlling the inflammatory cascade and reducing the risk of developing obesity-related comorbidities.

Keywords: adipose tissue, inflammatory cascade, adipocyte, insulin resistance, glucose ¬regulation, healthy obese






Readers of this article also read:

Radiolucency below the crown of mandibular horizontal incompletely impacted third molars and acute inflammation in men with diabetes
Berberine: metabolic and cardiovascular effects in preclinical and clinical trials
Critical appraisal of the role of glucosamine and chondroitin in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee
Ego mechanisms of defense are associated with patients’ preference of treatment modality independent of psychological distress in end-stage renal disease
Can a gentamicin-specific chart reduce neonatal medication errors?
Tackling obesity: new therapeutic agents for assisted weight loss
Morgellons disease: Analysis of a population with clinically confirmed microscopic subcutaneous fibers of unknown etiology
Type 2 diabetes mellitus and inflammation: Prospects for biomarkers of risk and nutritional intervention
Nephroprotective action of glycosaminoglycans: why the pharmacological properties of sulodexide might be reconsidered
Dashboards in neonatology
  • Testimonials

    "You do a tremendous job!!" Ruben Restrepo, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio