IGF-I activation of the AKT pathway is impaired in visceral but not subcutaneous preadipocytes from obese subjects.

Obesity morbidity is associated with excess visceral adiposity, whereas sc adipose tissue is much less metabolically hazardous. Human abdominal sc preadipocytes have greater capacity for proliferation, differentiation, and survival than omental preadipocytes. IGF-I is a critical mediator of preadipocyte proliferation, differentiation, and survival through multiple signaling pathways.