Adipocyte death has been reported in both obese humans and rodents. However, its role in
metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation
associated with obesity has not been studied. We now show using real-time reverse
transcription-PCR arrays that adipose tissue of obese mice display a pro-apoptotic
phenotype. Moreover, caspase activation and adipocyte apoptosis were markedly increased
in adipose tissue from both mice with diet-induced obesity and obese humans. These …