EPIGENETIC REGULATION OF ADIPOSE TISSUE: INSIGHTS INTO METABOLIC FUNCTIONS AND DYSFUNCTION

Adipose tissue, the body’s primary energy-storing tissue, has additional roles in hormone regulation and thermogenesis. While it has been traditionally examined through the lens of hormonal and nervous system interactions, recent advancements have highlighted the importance of epigenetic modifications in adipose tissue function and dysfunction. This review examines how epigenetic modifications impact the functions of white adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue, and beige adipose tissue, how these alterations contribute to the development of obesogenic memory, and how they indirectly affect the central nervous system to sustain obesity. Additionally, it explores the impact of epigenetic alterations on obesity susceptibility and the outcomes of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, following a brief overview of epigenetic modifications, the types of adipose tissue, and their functions. Epigenetic mechanisms such as deoxyribonucleic acid methylation, histone modifications and non-coding ribonucleic acid modulations have a considerable role in adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, and thermogenesis in brown and beige adipose tissue. In white adipose tissue, these modifications are linked to dysregulated lipid storage and metabolic impairments associated with obesity. Brown and beige adipose tissue, adipose tissues responsible for non-shivering thermogenesis, are also regulated by a network of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators that modulate their differentiation and function. Studies have indicated that transgenerational epigenetic inheritance may be a contributing factor to the rising prevalence of metabolic diseases, including non-alcoholic liver disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, differential deoxyribonucleic acid methylation patterns in genes associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes have been revealed, offering insights into the mechanisms of these diseases and potential therapeutic targets. Interestingly, bariatric surgery appears to have an effect that resets the obesogenic memory, making it a more effective long-term treatment than conventional weight loss methods. This provides a link between epigenetics and weight loss interventions. Furthermore, the potential role of epigenetics in central nervous system regulation of appetite and energy homeostasis underscores its systemic impact on metabolic pathways using the reward circuitry involved in hedonic regulation. This review emphasizes the significance of epigenetic regulation in adipose tissue functions and its implications for metabolic diseases. The comprehension of these mechanisms serves as a foundation for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches to address the growing prevalence of metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes.