The Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue, White Adipose Tissue, and Brown Adipose Tissue in the Pathophysiological Effects of Ethanol.

Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in energy storage, but it also acts as an endocrine organ by secreting hormones and proinflammatory molecules. It regulates various processes, including adipogenesis, metabolism, and inflammation. White and brown adipose tissue (WAT and BAT) consists of white and brown adipocytes, respectively, which differ in cellular structure and function. Adipocytes also make up a significant part of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), which forms a sheath-like structure around blood vessels. Current research indicates that WAT, BAT, and PVAT are negatively affected by ethanol (ethyl alcohol). The changes induced by ethanol in the storage, metabolic, and secretory functions of PVAT and WAT are linked to vascular and hepatic dysfunction. In this context, while adipose tissue is a target of the harmful effects of ethanol, it also contributes to its pathophysiological consequences. Although the function of BAT is impacted by ethanol, BAT exhibits a protective role against ethanol-induced liver disease. This review highlights both past and recent efforts to identify the mechanisms through which ethanol consumption alters adipocyte function, with a focus on findings from studies that explain the detrimental effects of ethanol on WAT and BAT, and discusses the interplay between adipose tissue and the liver, particularly its implications for alcoholic liver disease. Additionally, new data that elucidate the mechanisms underlying ethanol-induced dysfunction in PVAT are summarized.