{"title":"Palmitic and oleic acids in type 2 diabetes mellitus.","authors":"Xavier Palomer,Ricardo Rodríguez-Calvo,Marta Tajes,Walter Wahli,Manuel Vázquez-Carrera","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.003","url":null,"abstract":"The most common dietary and plasma fatty acids (FAs), palmitic and oleic acids, have opposing effects on the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Palmitic acid has been strongly associated with the presence of T2DM, while oleic acid has not and may even counteract the detrimental effects of palmitic acid. Despite this, recent cohort studies have shown no association or even conflicting results, questioning these roles. This review summarizes the recently discovered molecular mechanisms by which palmitic acid inhibits insulin sensitivity and influences the development and progression of T2DM and how oleic acid can attenuate these effects. It also addresses future challenges in the growing field of dietary FA metabolism in T2DM research, which may help assess their actual impact on this condition.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147578102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrew J Elmendorf,Jonathan D Douros,Patrick J Knerr,Jonathan N Flak
{"title":"Improving incretin-mediated body weight loss via energy expenditure.","authors":"Andrew J Elmendorf,Jonathan D Douros,Patrick J Knerr,Jonathan N Flak","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2025.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"Incretin-based therapies have transformed obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment. While current therapeutics safely reduce food intake and lower body weight, a compensatory drop-in basal metabolic rate represents a barrier to sustainable weight loss. Current efforts aim to incorporate energy expenditure (EE) stimulation with the anorectic actions currently available in the clinic. Glucagon receptor agonism, for instance, has demonstrated the benefit of a multipronged increase in EE; however, compensatory challenges persist. We detail peripheral mechanisms that can increase EE independent of activity and the key central mechanisms controlling them. Understanding the complex interplay between these mechanisms and their central modulation is critical for a coordinated engagement of EE pathways to complement and improve current weight loss treatments.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"192 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147535736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring cell types and their dynamic states in adipose tissue.","authors":"Hahn Nahmgoong,Jae Bum Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.012","url":null,"abstract":"The functional versatility of adipose tissue is mediated by various cell types and their capacity to transition between distinct functional states upon pathophysiological stimuli. Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics have enabled the identification of novel and numerous cell types and states of adipocytes, adipose stem and progenitor cells, immune cells, vascular cells, and mesothelial cells. Significant efforts have been made to understand the key features and underlying processes of the cell subpopulations and to elucidate the cellular mechanisms of adipose tissue plasticity. In this review, we describe current knowledge of heterogeneous cell types and states in adipose tissue and emerging techniques to characterize them, offering fundamental knowledge for studying adipose tissue in the single-cell era.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147524538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Interplays and functional divergences of one-carbon metabolic shunts.","authors":"Zhen Wang,Weiwei Yu,Di Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2025.12.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2025.12.008","url":null,"abstract":"One-carbon (1C) metabolism serves as a central hub governing anabolism-supporting and epigenetic modification processes through its shunts, the tetrahydrofolate (THF) cycle, and the methionine cycle. The 1C shunts exhibit divergent characteristics in mammalian cells in terms of methyl sources, regulatory networks, and supporting functions. Under specific physiological and pathological contexts, 1C metabolic shunts exhibit distinct biological functions and orchestrate metabolic crosstalk between cells and across organs. These findings have significantly advanced our understanding of systemic compartmentalization and functional cooperation between the divergent 1C shunts. In this review, we explore the intricate interplays and divergent biological roles between the THF and methionine cycles at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels and further propose innovative avenues for research and clinical applications.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147524539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Endocrine control of one-carbon metabolism in cachexia.","authors":"Yongrui Hai,Xuejing Duan,Gaofei Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2026.02.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2026.02.006","url":null,"abstract":"Cancer cachexia lacks effective therapies due to an incomplete understanding of its upstream drivers. A recent study by Morigny et al. identifies one-carbon metabolism as a conserved endocrine-metabolic program that links tumor signals to skeletal muscle hypermetabolism and systemic energy imbalance, highlighting methyl-donor pathways as actionable targets for treating cachexia.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"58 3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147524511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adipose tissue-derived extracellular vesicles as drivers of endothelial dysfunction in obesity.","authors":"Daphne Lintsen,Lisa Schuetz,Paula Pincela Lins,Annelies Bronckaers,Kenneth Verboven,Kristiaan Wouters,Bieke Broux","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"Obesity and (white) adipose tissue (AT) inflammation are closely linked to endothelial dysfunction (ED) and neurological conditions associated with an impaired blood-brain barrier (BBB). AT-derived extracellular vesicles (AT-EVs), cell-derived particles involved in intercellular and interorgan communication, have emerged as active mediators of this process, yet the underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive. Molecular and functional profiling of AT-EVs' cargo has revealed obesity-related changes in miRNAs, proteins, and lipids that drive ED, primarily by activating proinflammatory signaling in endothelial cells. Importantly, these cargo changes in AT-EVs suggest a broader role, potentially modulating the neurovascular unit, thereby linking AT-EVs to brain pathologies. Collectively, these insights highlight AT-EVs as critical players in obesity-related ED and support their causal role in promoting neurological disease progression.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147524537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mitochondrial NADP(H) integrates redox and metabolism.","authors":"Ren Zhang,Kezhong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2025.12.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2025.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"The compartmentalization of NAD(H) and NADP(H) is fundamental to cellular metabolism, enabling precise coordination of redox balance, biosynthetic reactions, and energy homeostasis. Within mitochondria, NADP(H) has long been viewed as a redox buffer supporting antioxidant defense and reductive biosynthesis. Emerging evidence, however, reveals that mitochondrial NADP(H) also drives oxidative metabolism and metabolic flexibility. Loss of the mitochondrial NAD kinase, which phosphorylates NAD(H) to generate mitochondrial NADP(H), disrupts NADP(H)-dependent pathways that sustain oxidative metabolism and systemic energy balance. These advances reposition mitochondrial NADP(H) as an integrative regulator that links redox homeostasis with energy metabolism across cellular and systemic levels, with broad implications for metabolic disease.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Signe Schmidt Kjølner Hansen,Juleen R Zierath,Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson
{"title":"Exercise timing and circadian regulation of metabolism in type 2 diabetes.","authors":"Signe Schmidt Kjølner Hansen,Juleen R Zierath,Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.015","url":null,"abstract":"The circadian system regulates daily rhythms in metabolism and hormone secretion; however, in type 2 diabetes, disrupted clock gene oscillations in skeletal muscle impair metabolic regulation. Insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation contribute to this circadian misalignment. Exercise can restore circadian rhythms, yet optimal timing has only recently been explored. In individuals with type 2 diabetes, afternoon and evening exercise yield greater improvements in glycemic control and insulin sensitivity compared with morning exercise, with intensity appearing to influence these effects. Thus, appropriately timed exercise may help correct circadian disruption and glucose dysregulation in type 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of exercise timing effects and establish evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147490005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Brown adipose tissue and beyond: lipolysis and glycerolipid cycling in thermogenesis.","authors":"Dominique Langin,André C Carpentier","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.009","url":null,"abstract":"Following cold exposure, brown adipose tissue (BAT) generates heat through uncoupling protein 1-mediated thermogenesis. Intracellular lipolysis, mediated by neutral lipases, provides nonesterified fatty acids that fuel BAT mitochondrial respiration and uncoupling. In the present review, we provide current knowledge on the neuroendocrine control of intracellular lipolysis in brown adipocytes and discuss how the intracellular lipolytic machinery is important for the thermogenic activity of BAT. We also examine the importance of glycerolipid cycling and white adipose tissue (WAT) lipolysis in cold-induced thermogenesis. We discuss recent evidence suggesting a significant role for other organs, such as the liver and cardiovascular system, in nonshivering thermogenesis. Beyond BAT, interorgan glycerolipid cycling between WAT and lean organs may contribute significantly to whole-body thermogenic responses.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147490004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessica N. Maung, Elif A. Oral, Ormond A. MacDougald
{"title":"Lamin A/C in health, laminopathies, and familial partial lipodystrophy 2","authors":"Jessica N. Maung, Elif A. Oral, Ormond A. MacDougald","doi":"10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.010","url":null,"abstract":"Familial partial lipodystrophy 2 (FPLD2) is a rare disease characterized by selective adipose tissue loss, expansion, and dysfunction, caused by pathogenic variants in <ce:italic>LMNA</ce:italic> encoding nuclear lamins A and C. Here, we synthesize current evidence on how nuclear shape abnormalities, impaired mechanosensing, blocked adipogenesis, chromatin remodeling, and altered lamin-binding partner interactions may contribute to FPLD2 pathology. Emerging data highlight chromatin and transcriptional dysregulation of lipogenic, mitochondrial, and inflammatory genes as central drivers, with other mechanisms acting in complementary ways. We also discuss depot-specific transcriptional remodeling that may explain differential adipose loss and expansion in FPLD2. Understanding how these mechanistic pathways converge across FPLD2 and other laminopathies may reveal new therapeutic targets to preserve adipose function.","PeriodicalId":23301,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147465230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}