Angiogenesis pathway in white adipose tissue (WAT angiogenesis)

The angiogenesis pathway in white adipose tissue (WAT) is a complex biological process responsible for the formation of new blood vessels to support the expansion and metabolic function of fat depots. In healthy adipose tissue, angiogenesis is tightly coupled with adipogenesis, ensuring adequate oxygenation and nutrient delivery to adipocytes (Corvera & Gelekuma, 2019). Dysregulation of this pathway is a hallmark of obesity, where insufficient vascularization leads to tissue hypoxia, chronic inflammation, and systemic insulin resistance (Cao, 2013). Key molecular mediators include Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A), which signals through VEGFR2, and the Angiopoietin-Tie2 system, which regulates vessel stability (Sung et al., 2013). Therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway include pro-angiogenic approaches to improve metabolic health and anti-angiogenic approaches to limit adipose tissue mass, though the latter often faces challenges regarding systemic toxicity and metabolic side effects (Elias et al., 2012).

Other names

Adipose tissue angiogenesisWAT vascularizationAdipose neovascularizationAdipose tissue remodeling

Modulation of pro-angiogenic factors (e.g., VEGF, FGF) and anti-angiogenic factors (e.g., Thrombospondin) to regulate the density and functionality of the vascular network within white adipose depots.