Hormonal
Obesity-induced expansion of white adipose tissue leads to local hypoxia, which triggers the transcription factor HIF-1 and subsequent secretion of pro-inflammatory adipokines (e.g., TNF-alpha, IL-6, PAI-1), contributing to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
This research suggests that as fat tissue grows, it can outgrow its blood supply, creating low-oxygen conditions that trigger inflammation. This inflammation worsens insulin resistance. Therefore, interventions that reduce fat mass or improve vascular health in adipose tissue may help break this cycle of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
A possible explanation is that it is a response to hypoxia in areas of the fat depots as the tissue mass increases during the progressive development of obesity... A pivotal signal in the cellular response to hypoxia is transcription factor-1 (HIF-1)... Thus a link between the increased WAT mass in obesity, adipocyte hypoxia, inflammation and the stimulation of angiogenesis is plausible.
Why this rating
The paper is a review citing multiple primary studies (e.g., Hotamisligil, Weisberg, Semenza) establishing the link, though it notes some quantitative contributions are still debated.
Source
Adipokines: inflammation and the pleiotropic role of white adipose tissue
Paul Trayhurn et al. · British Journal Of Nutrition · 2004
DOI 10.1079/bjn20041213
More from this paper
- Adipose tissue directly secretes pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6) and acute-phase proteins (PAI-1, haptoglobin) in obesity, contributing to elevated circulating levels and metabolic comorbidities.Good
- Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory adipokine whose levels decrease in obesity, contrasting with most other adipokines that increase.Good
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