Adipose tissue lipolysis is the fundamental catabolic process wherein stored triglycerides within fat cells, or adipocytes, are enzymatically cleaved into glycerol and non-esterified free fatty acids. This physiological mechanism serves as the primary pathway for mobilizing energy reserves to meet the body’s systemic fuel demands during periods of fasting or increased energy expenditure. The resultant free fatty acids are subsequently released into the circulation for uptake and oxidation by other metabolically active tissues. The rate of this process is a critical determinant of whole-body energy balance and metabolic health.
Origin
The term is a precise combination of “adipose,” referencing the fat storage tissue, and “lipolysis,” derived from the Greek lipos (fat) and lysis (a loosening or breaking down). This concept is foundational to the field of energy metabolism and endocrinology, emerging from early biochemical studies on lipid mobilization. Its clinical significance has been deeply explored in the context of insulin resistance, obesity, and the hormonal regulation of substrate utilization.
Mechanism
The process is tightly regulated by a sophisticated hormonal cascade involving catecholamines, glucagon, and insulin. Hormonal signals bind to G protein-coupled receptors on the adipocyte surface, activating adenylyl cyclase and increasing intracellular cyclic AMP. This signaling ultimately leads to the phosphorylation and activation of key lipolytic enzymes, primarily adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). These enzymes work sequentially to hydrolyze the three fatty acid ester bonds, liberating the stored energy components for export.
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