This review summarizes how the information obtained from Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment (HAART)-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome (HALS) research enhances our understanding of novel aspects of the cellular and molecular basis of adipose tissue biology and its disturbances, which may be relevant to obesity research. For instance, the authors call attention to the pivotal role of mitochondria in white adipose tissue function, the role that interference with master transcription factors of adipogenesis may have in human adipose tissue, the capacity of human white adipose tissue to acquire brown fat-like features, as well as the importance of apoptosis and the potential impact of viral infections in adipose tissue. They also highlight the important difference between subcutaneous adipose depots, which are prone to lipoatrophy, and intra-abdominal (visceral) adipose depots, which are prone to enlargement. This difference has been noted in additional studies on the lipodystrophy syndrome. The authors also point out that both lipoatrophic and hypertrophic adipose tissue share a local pro-inflammatory environment, a finding that improves our understanding of the biological reactions of adipose tissue and serves to build a better “library” of information on adipose tissue. Lastly, the authors stress the importance of promoting communication between researchers from the two study areas of obesity and lipodystrophy in order to advance our knowledge of adipose tissue physiopathology and ultimately aid in the design of successful treatment and/or prevention strategies.
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