Figure 1.

Lipotoxicity origin. The positive energy balance (high fat and/or carbohydrates diet) is one of the main promoters associated with obesity development. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of white adipose tissue is a process commonly observed in the progression of obesity. The abdominal subcutaneous deposit has been associated with a greater increase in plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), a characteristic finding of insulin-resistant patients. Although the onset of lipotoxicity is unknown, altered lipid signaling by white adipose tissue and dysregulation in adipokines production is a key factor in restricting the lipid storage capacity observed in adipocytes. This limitation in the lipid deposit activates a vicious circle that leads to specific adaptations in energy metabolism in certain tissues such as the skeletal muscle, heart, liver, pancreas, and kidney, thus activating signaling pathways associated with gluco(neo)genesis in the presence of active lipogenesis. Created with BioRender.com.