Putting fat cells onto the road map to novel therapeutic strategies.

Fat cells are traditionally considered dormant cells, quietly functioning in lipid accumulation and lipolysis. In recent years, fat cells received a glowing appraisal and were found to be an important player in energy homeostasis, tumorigenesis, immunity, and reproduction, via their endocrine and regulatory functions. Fat cells secrete adipokines, many of which are inflammation-related peptides such as cytokines and cytokine-like molecules.