The Role of Adipocytes in Tissue Regeneration and Stem Cell Niches

Classically, white adipose tissue (WAT) was considered an inert component of connective tissue but is now appreciated as a major regulator of metabolic physiology and endocrine homeostasis. Recent work defining how WAT develops and expands in vivo emphasizes the importance of specific locations of WAT or depots in metabolic regulation. Interestingly, mature white adipocytes are integrated into several tissues. A new perspective regarding the in vivo regulation and function of WAT in these tissues has highlighted an essential role of adipocytes in tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Finally, there has been significant progress in understanding how mature adipocytes regulate the pathology of several diseases. In this review, we discuss these novel roles of WAT in the homeostasis and regeneration of epithelial, muscle, and immune tissues and how they contribute to the pathology of several disorders.