Figure 1.

The schematic diagram of the process of adipogenesis

Adipocytes are derived from pre-adipocytes/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The processes of adipogenesis, including two steps, hyperplasia (proliferation and differentiation, increased fat cell number) and hypertrophy (expansion, increased fat cell size). Upon adipogenesis, the increased adipose tissue mass (fat deposition) causes obesity.