Immunity in adipose tissues: Cutting through the fat

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)

Well known functions of adipose tissue include energy storage, regulation of thermogenesis, and glucose homeostasis-each of which are associated with the metabolic functions of fat. However, adipose tissues also have important immune functions. In this issue of Immunological Reviews, we present a series of articles that highlight the immune functions of adipose tissue, including the roles of specialized adipose-resident immune cells and fat-associated lymphoid structures. Importantly, immune cell functions in adipose tissues are often linked to the metabolic functions of adipocytes and vice versa. These reciprocal interactions and how they influence both immune and metabolic functions will be discussed in each article. In the first article, Wang et al., 11 discuss adipose-associated macrophages and how obesity and metabolism impact their phenotype and function. Several articles in this issue discuss T cells as either contributors to, or regulators of, inflammatory responses in adipose tissues. Valentine and Nikolajczyk 12 provide insights into the role of T cells in obesity-associated inflammation and their contribution to metabolic dysfunction, whereas an article from Kallies and Vasanthakumar 13 and another from Elkins and Li 14 describe adipose-associated Tregs and how they help prevent inflammation and maintain metabolic homeostasis. Articles from Okabe 35 as well as from D

Evidence level

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

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