Introduction
Adipose tissue (AT) has traditionally been viewed as an inert
”cushioning” layer providing mechanical protection and serving as an
energy storage site (1). However, research over the past decades has
uncovered its dynamic nature, revealing AT as a highly active organ with
metabolic, endocrine, immune, and biomechanical functions (2). AT plays
a central role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and cancer (3-5).
Situated throughout the body, AT encompasses the deepest layer of the
cutaneous integument, known as subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), along
with the epidermis and dermis (6). SAT’s involvement in both immune and
metabolic processes has been insufficiently explored.
Given that obesity has become a worldwide pandemic (7), additional
attention to SAT physiology is necessitated, especially its
contributions to conditions like diabetes and immune-mediated skin
diseases such as psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa (6, 8-11).
This review aims to provide an
overview of the current understanding of SAT structure and functions,
emphasizing its association with various diseases. Additionally, we will
explore the immunological functions of SAT in the context of both
cutaneous and systemic diseases, examining its potential role in
immune-mediated skin infections.