This 2004 review by Gökhan S. Hotamisligil examines how adipose tissue functions as an endocrine organ, secreting cytokines—termed adipokines—that contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation associated with obesity. Key adipokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and leptin are discussed for their roles in disrupting insulin signaling pathways, leading
