Palmitoylethanolamide, adipocytes and obesity-related inflammatory states

Obesity is characterized by ‘low grade’ and chronic inflammation, which leads to pathologies such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes or atherosclerosis. The role of the adipose tissue, and specifically adipocytes, in this process is discussed.Besides, the palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endocannabinoid-like molecule, was revealed to have an overall anti-inflammatory effect; moreover, it is secreted by adipose tissue. Thus, this review aims to understand the role of PEA in adipocytes in the case of obesity-related inflammatory states.