Curr Med Sci. 2026 Oct 29. doi: 10.1007/s11596-026-00251-3. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The accelerating aging of the global population has made aging and its related diseases major public health challenges in the 21st century. Adipose tissue is not only an energy reservoir but also a crucial endocrine organ and metabolic regulator. Its dysfunction is closely linked to aging and the development of multiple diseases. This review outlines the key characteristics of adipocyte senescence and discusses its pathological contributions to obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and cardiovascular diseases. It also summarizes current intervention strategies for adipocyte senescence, including senolytics, senomorphics, caloric restriction, physical exercise, and gene editing. We propose lipid prodrugs as promising adipose tissue delivery platforms that can be coupled with diverse therapeutic agents to increase the local concentration of drugs and minimize systemic toxicity. By utilizing the unique lipid metabolism of adipocytes, this strategy offers a new avenue for therapeutic intervention in adipocyte senescence and its associated metabolic disorders.
PMID:42965765 | DOI:10.1007/s11596-026-00251-3