New Insight on Adipose Tissue Function in Advanced Renal Failure

Abstract

Adipose tissue has been considered simply as an exclusive fat storage organ for a
long period. Later in the mid-1990s and after identification of leptin, a revolution occurred in
understanding of white adipose tissue function. In fact, adipose tissue has been recognized as
a dynamic endocrine organ, which could affect whole body homeostasis.1
Thereafter, more
than 50 secretory peptides, which are called “adipokines” or “adipocytokines”, with diverse
metabolic functions have been identified2
and the biological role of adipose tissue became more
sophisticated and interesting.
The adipokines may act through an autocrine, paracrine and endocrine manner. They
are supposed to be involved in a wide range of physiologic to pathologic processes including
dietary intake and appetite regulation, energy expenditure, insulin resistance, lipid metabolism,
immunity, inflammation and acute-phase responses, vascular homeostasis, endothelial function, angiogenesis and so on.2,3Leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, resistin, visfatin, vaspin, omentin,
TNF-α, and IL-6 are among the most studied adipokines in health and disease. However, studies regarding the extensive biological and metabolic functions of adipokines are still ongoing.