Immune Cells and Metabolism

Research output: Contribution to book/conference proceedings/anthology/reportChapter in book/anthology/reportContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Low-grade inflammation in the obese AT (AT) and the liver is a critical player in the development of obesity-related metabolic dysregulation, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Myeloid as well as lymphoid cells infiltrate the AT and the liver and expand within these metabolic organs as a result of excessive nutrient intake, thereby exacerbating tissue inflammation. Macrophages are the paramount cell population in the field of metabolism-related inflammation; as obesity progresses, a switch takes place within the AT environment from an M2-alternatively activated macrophage state to an M1-inflammatory macrophage-dominated milieu. M1-polarized macrophages secrete inflammatory cytokines like TNF in the obese AT; such cytokines contribute to insulin resistance in adipocytes. Besides macrophages, also CD8+ T cells promote inflammation in the AT and the liver and thereby the deterioration of the metabolic balance in adipocytes and hepatocytes. Other cells of the innate immunity, such as neutrophils or mast cells, interfere with metabolic homeostasis as well. On the other hand, eosinophils or T-regulatory cells, the number of which in the AT decreases in the course of obesity, function to maintain metabolic balance by ameliorating inflammatory processes. In addition, eosinophils and M2-polarized macrophages may contribute to "beige" adipogenesis under lean conditions; beige adipocytes are located predominantly in the subcutaneous AT and have thermogenic and optimal energy-dispensing properties like brown adipocytes. This chapter will summarize the different aspects of the regulation of homeostasis of metabolic tissues by immune cells.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMetabolic Control
EditorsStephan Herzig
Place of PublicationSchweiz
PublisherSpringer, Cham
Pages221-249
Number of pages29
ISBN (electronic)978-3-319-29806-1
ISBN (print)978-3-319-29804-7
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Peer-reviewedYes

Publication series

SeriesHandbook of experimental pharmacology, Band 233
Volume233
ISSN0171-2004

External IDs

researchoutputwizard legacy.publication#72222
Scopus 84961612924
PubMed 25903417

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals