Adipobiology of Diabetes Mellitus

Accumulating basic and clinical studies indicate that adipose tissue cells (adipocytes, matrix cells, stromovascular cells and associated macrophages) synthesize and release multiple signaling proteins collectively termed adipokines. Adipokines regulate a broad spectrum of biological processes, with glucose and lipid metabolism being a key example. This defines a new field of study: adipobiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The importance of diabetes-related (diabetogenic) adipokines, with an emphasis on adiponectin, resistin, leptin, angiotensin II, tumor necrosis factor-α , interleukin-6, and visfatin, is reviewed. Competing of pro- and anti-diabetogenic adipokine-mediated signals may pivotally be involved in the adipobiology of diabetes. This paradigm may reveal further new tools for drug development against diabetes and related disorders.