As one of the major endocrine organs, the adipose organ is organized in different depots that are located all over the body. Two major tissues compose the adipose organ, namely the brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the white adipose tissue (WAT). Both are composed of by a very heterogeneous cell pool, which is grouped into two main clusters, namely adipocytes and the stromal cells. The main parenchymal cells of the adipose organ are adipocytes, which are currently grouped into three major cell types. White adipocytes store the energy taken up from the circulation into tightly packed triacylglycerols. Contrary, brown adipocytes, and a less thermogenic efficient-related subpopulation referred to as brite or beige adipocytes dissipate heat by a process called uncoupled thermogenesis.

Given the importance of adipose tissue in the development of obesity-associated co-morbidities our lab is interested in understanding what factors control adipose tissue quality and thereby protect the body from the detrimental effects of excess nutrients.

What determines adipose tissue quality? The two main quality factors are adipose tissue localization and adipose tissue function. While substantial evidence exists on the role of different adipose depots in the regulation of metabolism, determining adipose tissue function is more complicated and dependent on a variety of factors. One factor is adipose tissue composition, which is for example dependent on the ratio of brown and white adipocytes. A second factor is adipocyte formation, which controls adipocyte turnover and thus affects its functionality.

Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms and the cellular heterogeneity of adipose tissue, which can lead to changes in both adipose tissue composition and adipocyte formation, thus affecting adipose tissue quality and metabolic homeostasis.