New research from the University of Eastern Finland sheds light on the mechanisms associating obesity with inflammation by exploring tiny membrane particles, known as extracellular vesicles, secreted by human adipocytes. The study found that obesity-induced inflammation increased the secretion of extracellular vesicles, which may contribute to the detrimental health effects of obesity. The findings were in the .
When people gain weight, their adipose tissue expands, which gradually leads to its inflammation, and to . Normal adipose tissue function is disrupted, and it starts to release lipids and inflammatory cytokines. In other words, adipose tissue is not passive, but it actively communicates with other tissues, and also contributes to the pathogenesis of various diseases and conditions.
Recent years have seen the publication of intriguing studies suggesting that adipose tissue also secretes tiny membrane particles, i.e., extracellular vesicles, which may play a significant role in obesity and in obesity-induced metabolic disorders.
However, previous studies have mostly examined extracellular vesicles obtained from adipocytes and adipose tissue of mice. Visceral adipose tissue secretes more vesicles than subcutaneous adipose tissue Extracellular vesicles can be found in all , and their discovery has revolutionized our understanding of intracellular communication. In essence, cells use them to convey instant messages between cells and to alter each other's function.
Extracel.