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.