A Review of the Microcirculation of Adipose Tissue: Anatomic, Metabolic, and Angiogenic Perspectives

Abstract

Adipose tissue microcirculation is unique within the vascular system because of a capacity for this tissue to grow throughout most of adult life. A review of the microcirculation of adipose tissue has included a historical review of the early studies, which served as a foundation for later investigations on this topic, including basic hemodynamic measurements in mammalian adipose tissue. The various methods for measuring blood flow in white and brown adipose tissue are discussed with respect to studies of transport of substrates involved in adipose tissue metabolism. The role of innervation and vascular adrenergic receptors and the effects of diet and exercise on adipose tissue blood flow are also included. An in-depth analysis of the development of adipose tissue microvasculature indicates that angiogenesis often precedes adipogenesis. The clinical effects of hemodynamic adaptations to adipose tissue expansion are discussed in view of an epidemic increase in the prevalence of obesity and its co-morbidities. The recent discovery of sites of nuclear regulation of adipocyte differentiation, together with the identification of growth factors in adipose tissue, is an indication of the progress that is being made in the further understanding of molecular and cellular events that affect adipose tissue growth and, ultimately, adipose tissue microcirculation.

Human clinical experience with adipose precursor cells seeded on hyaluronic acid-based spongy scaffolds

“…Tissue engineering research uses regenerative protocols that involve the engineered recapitulation of certain embryonic events [21] that coordinate the morphogenesis of the targeted tissue. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is recognized as a highly hydrated network which comprises several main effectors [22][23][24]. Its architecture provides not only an instructive cue for the conversion and spatial orientation [25] of precursor cells into a functional tissue [26] but also properties at a macroscale level provide a number of tissue functions including osmosis, molecular and nutrient transport [12,27].…”

Hepatocyte growth factor secreted by cultured adipocytes promotes tube formation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro

“…Excessive growth of adipose tissue may require the formation of new capillaries for proper functioning. 3 However, the mechanisms by which adipose tissue induces angiogenesis are not fully understood. Adipose tissue is now recognized as an endocrine organ that secretes many cytokines and growth factors.…”

Probabilistic methods for addressing uncertainty and variability in biological models: application to a toxicokinetic model

“…Moreover, adipose tissue is known to have highly heterogeneous physiological properties, including significant variations in fat cell size, lipid distribution, blood flow rates and cell membrane permeabilities [18][19][20][21]. These characteristics further suggest that the "well-mixed," rapid equilibrium assumptions of the perfusion-limited model may be inappropriate for describing the disposition of fat-accumulating compounds such as TCE in adipose tissue.…”