Obesity and obesity-associated disorders have become globally prevalent. Knowing how adipose tissue forms is important for the intervention of obesity. In the last decades, numerous evidence have shown that redox status changes under the condition of obesity and in the process of adipogenesis. Alterations of both oxidant and antioxidant levels may influence the transformation from stem cell or preadipocytes to mature adipocytes. Redox system exerts “tridimensional” mechanism in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation, including transcriptional, epigenetic, and posttranslational modulations. However, the roles of redox system in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation are paradoxical. Therefore, we propose that restoration and maintenance of redox balance rather than simple prooxidant or antioxidant interventions are critical for the prevention and therapy of obesity and obesity-associated disorders.
Part of the book: Redox