Dove Medical Press is pleased to invite you to submit your research to an upcoming Article Collection on "Therapeutic advances in adipose tissue dysfunction and bone health in obesity and insulin resistance" in Drug Design, Development and Therapy.
The adipose tissue is a large and varied endocrine organ, consisting of different types of fat cells and other cell types (i.e., endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells) with unique secretory properties. It can influence almost every aspect of body function. In mammals, the adipose tissue grows and develops in utero in relation to maternal blood glucose levels, and if challenged after birth with overnutrition, it may continue to expand almost indefinitely, causing obesity and its attendant metabolic consequences, such as insulin resistance.
Although there are many hypothesized contributing factors to the development of insulin resistance in obesity (i.e., lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, hypoxia), there is still no consensus about its aetiology. This is a significant problem because insulin resistance can have a major impact on the quality and expectancy of life for obese individuals. Insulin resistance plays a key role in the development of prevalent conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and reproductive disorders, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver and cancer. Additionally, it can negatively impact bone health. Indeed, the hormones released by the adipose tissue, which are collectively called “adipokines”, participate to the complex regulation of bone physiology and integrity, and can interfere, either positively or negatively, with the insulin receptor signalling. Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with changes in the secretion of adipokines. The use of incretin-based (i.e., single, dual, or triple agonist) drugs to lose weight can improve the function of adipose tissue and the secretion of adipokines, potentially reducing the burden of obesity and insulin resistance on the healthcare system. However, it is unclear how and whether these drugs would change the way adipose tissue communicates with bone and other tissues that are sensitive to insulin, and whether this would revert insulin resistance.
Original research articles (i.e., clinical, preclinical and/or translational studies) and review articles focusing on the latest pharmacological advances for treating obesity, insulin resistance, and their related metabolic/health consequences are welcome for submission to this special issue. Particular emphasis will be placed on articles exploring the connection between adipose tissue dysfunction and bone health, as well as the modulation of weight-lowering drugs on this aspect.
Please submit your manuscript on our website, quoting the promo code IQLPK to indicate that your submission is for consideration in this Article Collection.
