Adipose tissue (AT) is a complex organ, with multiple functions that are essential for maintaining metabolic health. A feature of AT is its capability to expand in response to physiological challenges, such as pregnancy and aging, and during chronic states of positive energy balance occurring throughout life. AT grows through adipogenesis and/or an increase in the size of existing adipocytes. One process that is required for healthy AT growth is the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is a necessary step to restore mechanical homeostasis and maintain tissue integrity and functionality. While the relationship between mechanobiology and adipogenesis is now well recognized, less is known about the role of adipocyte mechanosignaling pathways in AT growth. In this review article, we first summarize evidence linking ECM remodelling to AT expansion and how its perturbation is associated to a metabolically unhealthy phenotype. Subsequently, we highlight findings suggesting that molecules involved in the dynamic, bidirectional process (mechanoreciprocity) enabling adipocytes to sense changes in the mechanical properties of the ECM are interconnected to pathways regulating lipid metabolism. Finally, we discuss processes through which aging may influence the ability of adipocytes to appropriately respond to alterations in ECM composition.

脂肪组织 (AT) 是一个复杂的器官，具有对维持代谢健康至关重要的多种功能。AT 的一个特点是它能够扩展以应对生理挑战，例如怀孕和衰老，以及在整个生命中发生的慢性正能量平衡状态。AT 通过脂肪生成和/或现有脂肪细胞大小的增加而生长。AT 健康生长所需的一个过程是细胞外基质 (ECM) 的重塑，这是恢复机械稳态和维持组织完整性和功能的必要步骤。虽然机械生物学和脂肪生成之间的关系现已得到广泛认可，但对于脂肪细胞机械信号通路在 AT 生长中的作用知之甚少。在这篇评论文章中，我们首先总结了将 ECM 重塑与 AT 扩张联系起来的证据，以及它的扰动如何与代谢不健康的表型相关联。随后，我们强调了一些发现，这些发现表明，参与使脂肪细胞能够感知 ECM 机械特性变化的动态双向过程（机械互易性）的分子与调节脂质代谢的途径相互关联。最后，我们讨论了衰老可能影响脂肪细胞对 ECM 组成变化作出适当反应的能力的过程。使脂肪细胞能够感知 ECM 机械特性变化的双向过程（机械互易性）与调节脂质代谢的途径相互关联。最后，我们讨论了衰老可能影响脂肪细胞对 ECM 组成变化作出适当反应的能力的过程。使脂肪细胞能够感知 ECM 机械特性变化的双向过程（机械互易性）与调节脂质代谢的途径相互关联。最后，我们讨论了衰老可能影响脂肪细胞对 ECM 组成变化作出适当反应的能力的过程。