Although the major white adipose depots evolved primarily to store energy, secrete hormones and thermo-insulate the body, multiple secondary depots developed additional specialized and unconventional functions. Unlike any other fat tissue, dermal white adipose tissue (dWAT) evolved a large repertoire of novel features that are central to skin physiology, which we discuss in this Review. dWAT exists in close proximity to hair follicles, the principal appendages of the skin that periodically grow new hairs. Responding to multiple hair-derived signals, dWAT becomes closely connected to cycling hair follicles and periodically cycles itself. At the onset of new hair growth, hair follicles secrete activators of adipogenesis, while at the end of hair growth, a reduction in the secretion of activators or potentially, an increase in the secretion of inhibitors of adipogenesis, results in fat lipolysis. Hair-driven cycles of dWAT remodelling are uncoupled from size changes in other adipose depots that are controlled instead by systemic metabolic demands. Rich in growth factors, dWAT reciprocally signals to hair follicles, altering the activation state of their stem cells and modulating the pace of hair regrowth. dWAT cells also facilitate skin repair following injury and infection. In response to wounding, adipose progenitors secrete repair-inducing activators, while bacteria-sensing adipocytes produce antimicrobial peptides, thus aiding innate immune responses in the skin.

尽管主要的白色脂肪仓库主要发展为存储能量，分泌激素和使身体隔热，但多个二级仓库却发展出其他专门的和非常规的功能。与任何其他脂肪组织不同，真皮白色脂肪组织（dWAT）进化出许多新功能，这些新功能对皮肤生理至关重要，我们将在本综述中进行讨论。dWAT存在于毛囊附近，毛囊是皮肤的主要附件，可周期性地长出新的头发。响应多个发源信号，dWAT变得与循环毛囊紧密相连，并周期性地自身循环。在新的头发生长开始时，毛囊会分泌脂肪形成激活剂，而在头发生长结束时，激活剂的分泌会减少，或者可能 脂肪生成抑制剂分泌的增加导致脂肪脂解。dWAT重塑的头发驱动周期与其他脂肪库的大小变化（由系统性代谢需求控制）无关。dWAT富含生长因子，可以向毛囊传递信号，改变其干细胞的活化状态并调节毛发再生的速度。dWAT细胞还可促进受伤和感染后的皮肤修复。响应伤口，脂肪祖细胞分泌诱导修复的活化剂，而细菌敏感的脂肪细胞产生抗菌肽，从而有助于皮肤的先天免疫反应。dWAT重塑的头发驱动周期与其他脂肪库的大小变化（由系统性代谢需求控制）无关。dWAT富含生长因子，可以向毛囊传递信号，改变其干细胞的活化状态并调节毛发再生的速度。dWAT细胞还可促进受伤和感染后的皮肤修复。响应伤口，脂肪祖细胞分泌诱导修复的活化剂，而细菌敏感的脂肪细胞产生抗菌肽，从而有助于皮肤的先天免疫反应。dWAT重塑的头发驱动周期与其他脂肪库的大小变化（由系统性代谢需求控制）无关。dWAT富含生长因子，可以向毛囊传递信号，改变其干细胞的活化状态并调节毛发再生的速度。dWAT细胞还可促进受伤和感染后的皮肤修复。响应伤口，脂肪祖细胞分泌诱导修复的活化剂，而细菌敏感的脂肪细胞产生抗菌肽，从而有助于皮肤的先天免疫反应。