Lipolysis in lipid turnover, cancer cachexia, and obesity-induced insulin resistance

•Adipose tissue lipolysis is an essential catabolic pathway providing energy to the body when needed (e.g., fasting and physical exercise).•The process is exquisitely regulated by neural, hormonal, and paracrine factors.•Adipose tissue lipolysis is a determinant of adipose lipid turnover.•It is dysregulated in obesity, insulin resistance, and cancer cachexia.•Partial inhibition of adipose tissue lipolysis is a plausible therapeutic strategy in these conditions.

Triglycerides in adipose tissue are rapidly mobilized during times of energy needs via lipolysis, a catabolic process that plays important role in whole body triglyceride turnover. Lipolysis is regulated through cell surface receptors via neurotransmitters, hormones, and paracrine factors that activate various intracellular pathways. These pathways converge on the lipid droplet, the site of action of lipases and cofactors. Fat cell lipolysis is also involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders, and recent human studies have underscored its role in disease states such as cancer cachexia and obesity-induced insulin resistance. We highlight here topics and findings with physiological and clinical relevance, namely lipid turnover in human fat cells and the role of lipolysis in cancer cachexia and obesity-induced insulin resistance.