Tumor necrosis factor alpha is a potent regulator in fish adipose tissue

Adipose tissue acts as an endocrine organ releasing a variety of adipokines, which participate in the regulation of energy homeostasis. One of the most important adipokines secreted from adipose tissue is tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). TNFα has been identified and characterized as a limiting factor of lipid deposition in several fish species. TNFα affects adipocyte function and inhibits the differentiation of preadipocytes, and may be a good regulator in lipid metabolism of fish. Nevertheless, the regulation and molecular mechanism of TNFα on adipocyte lipolysis, differentiation and lipid droplet remain mostly unexplored in cultured fish. In this review, the effects of TNFα on fish adipose tissue are summarized, and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are further discussed.