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Review
. 2020 Aug 21;21(17):6030.
doi: 10.3390/ijms21176030.

Adipose Tissue Fibrosis: Mechanisms, Models, and Importance

Megan K DeBari  1 , Rosalyn D Abbott  2
Affiliations
Review

Adipose Tissue Fibrosis: Mechanisms, Models, and Importance

Megan K DeBari et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Increases in adipocyte volume and tissue mass due to obesity can result in inflammation, further dysregulation in adipose tissue function, and eventually adipose tissue fibrosis. Like other fibrotic diseases, adipose tissue fibrosis is the accumulation and increased production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Adipose tissue fibrosis has been linked to decreased insulin sensitivity, poor bariatric surgery outcomes, and difficulty in weight loss. With the rising rates of obesity, it is important to create accurate models for adipose tissue fibrosis to gain mechanistic insights and develop targeted treatments. This article discusses recent research in modeling adipose tissue fibrosis using in vivo and in vitro (2D and 3D) methods with considerations for biomaterial selections. Additionally, this article outlines the importance of adipose tissue in treating other fibrotic diseases and methods used to detect and characterize adipose tissue fibrosis.

Keywords: adipose tissue; biomaterials; fibrosis; in vitro models; in vivo models.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic showing changes to adipose tissue during obesity and fibrosis development.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic illustrating important biomaterial properties that should be considered when designing an in vitro fibrotic adipose tissue model.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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