Adipose tissue macrophage populations and inflammation are associated with systemic inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Obesity is accompanied by numerous systemic and tissue-specific derangements, including systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial abnormalities in skeletal muscle. Despite growing recognition that adipose tissue dysfunction plays a role in obesity-related disorders, the relationship between adipose tissue inflammation and other pathological features of obesity is not well-understood. We assessed macrophage populations and measured the expression of inflammatory cytokines in abdominal adipose tissue biopsies in 39 nondiabetic adults across a range of body mass indexes (BMI 20.5-45.8 kg/m 2 ). Skeletal muscle biopsies were used to evaluate mitochondrial respiratory capacity, ATP production capacity, coupling, and reactive oxygen species production. Insulin sensitivity (S I ) and β cell responsivity were determined from test meal postprandial glucose, insulin, c-peptide, and triglyceride kinetics. We examined the relationships between adipose tissue inflammatory markers, systemic inflammatory markers, S I , and skeletal muscle mitochondrial physiology. BMI was associated with increased adipose tissue and systemic inflammation, reduced S I , and reduced skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Adipose-resident macrophage numbers were positively associated with circulating inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and C-reactive prote

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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