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Wnt/β-catenin signaling in adipogenesis and metabolism

2007; Elsevier BV; Volume: 19; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.ceb.2007.09.014

1879-0410

Tyler C. Prestwich, Ormond A. MacDougald,

Pancreatic function and diabetes

Adipocyte differentiation consists of a complex series of events in which scores of cellular and extracellular factors interact to transform a fibroblast-like preadipocyte into a mature, lipid-filled adipocyte. Many of the pathways influencing this process have been identified using well-characterized preadipocyte culture systems and have subsequently been confirmed in animal models. Research conducted over the past decade has established the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as an important regulator of adipocyte differentiation. While initial reports implicated activators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling as potent inhibitors of adipogenesis, recent investigations of mesenchymal cell fate, obesity, and type 2 diabetes highlight significant additional roles for Wnt signaling in metabolism and adipocyte biology.