White adipose tissue (WAT) makes up about 20–25% of total body mass in healthy individuals and is crucial for regulating various metabolic processes, including energy metabolism, endocrine function, immunity, and reproduction. In adipose tissue research, “adipogenesis” is commonly used to refer to the process of adipocyte formation, spanning from stem cell commitment to the development of mature, functional adipocytes. Although, this term should encompass a wide range of processes beyond commitment and differentiation, to also include other stages of adipose tissue development such as hypertrophy, hyperplasia, angiogenesis, macrophage infiltration, polarization, etc.… collectively, referred to herein as the adipogenic cycle. The term “differentiation”, conversely, should only be used to refer to the process by which committed stem cells progress through distinct phases of subsequent differentiation. Recognizing this distinction is essential for accurately interpreting research findings on the mechanisms and stages of adipose tissue development and function. In this review, we focus on the molecular regulation of white adipose tissue development, from commitment to terminal differentiation, and examine key functional aspects of WAT that are crucial for normal physiology and systemic metabolic homeostasis.

ID 22963 Poster Board 486 Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a frequent gastrointestinal disorder that causes significant morbidity, and its incidence has been progressively increasing in recent years. Pancreatitis starts as a local inflammation in the pancreas, leading to systemic inflammatory response and complications mediated via the NF-κB pathway. Approximately 25% of patients with AP develop a severe disease progression that leads to systemic inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction with mortality rates of up to 50%. AP remains without specific therapy, and understanding its pathogenesis9s molecular mechanisms will aid in therapeutic intervention. a large body of evidence supports the use of phytochemicals and natural herbal extracts with anti-inflammatory properties as a potential adjuvant therapy. However, the lack of mechanistic understanding hampers the ability to refine these approaches into clinically supported treatments. Zyflamend (hereinafter referred to as PHB) is a commercially available well-defined poly-herbal blend of 10 herbal extracts, each included at a low dose relative to single-use compounds. Previous research investigated PHB for its anti-cancer properties because it ability to activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with human equivalent doses of PHB led to inhibition of carcinogenesis through various proposed pathways and processes, including ER stress, autophagy, and the NF-κB pathways. The current study aims to investigate the effects of PHB treatment on AP and characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms. To achieve this goal, complementary in vivo and in vitro approaches were employed to investigate the effects of PHB on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice and pancreatic acinar cells. Preliminary findings demonstrated that amylase and lipase activities were lower in Zyflamend-treated mice compared with controls injected with cerulein. In addition, while control mice exhibited a significant increase in local and systemic levels of inflammatory cytokines concomitant with pancreatic activation of inflammatory signaling pathways, Zyflamend treatment alleviated systemic and local inflammation. Although still preliminary, our data suggest that Zyflamend may serve a potential natural approach for the treatment and prevention of AP that is less invasive and capable of achieving long-term clinical significance.