Level D· Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studiesAnimal StudyEurope PMCOpen access

MACanalyzeR scRNAseq analysis tool reveals PPARγ<sup>HIGH</sup>/GDF15<sup>HIGH</sup> lipid-associated macrophages facilitate thermogenic expansion in BAT

Ninni A., Zaccaria F., Verteramo L., Sciarretta F., Silveira LS., Rosa-Neto JC.

Animal Study, published in Nat Commun (2025) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

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Level D· Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studiesEvidence level of this study

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
Read the A–D evidence level guide

This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type
Animal Study
Journal
Nat Commun (2025)
Reported sample size
—
Source database
Europe PMC
PMID
40450001
PMCID
PMC12126529
DOI
10.1038/s41467-025-60295-2
Citations
12

Abstract (original English)

Macrophages are key regulators of adipose tissue plasticity. Obesity impairs brown adipose tissue (BAT) function in humans, yet macrophage-mediated mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we introduce MACanalyzeR, a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) tool designed for comprehensive monocyte/macrophage metabolic profiling. Applying MACanalyzeR to BAT from obese male murine models (db/db and HFD-fed mice), we identify lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs) with foamy characteristics. Unlike db/db BAT LAMs, those in HFD BAT correlate with thermogenic gene expression and PPAR signaling activation. A distinct Pparg HIGH LAM subcluster progressively accumulates in thermogenically active BAT. Macrophage-specific Pparg depletion disrupts BAT thermogenesis, inducing a white-like phenotype and metabolic dysfunctions. Mechanistically, Pparg HIGH LAMs secrete GDF15, a key regulator of BAT identity and lipid metabolism under high-energy demand. Our study establishes MACanalyzeR as a powerful tool for immunometabolic interrogation and identifies Pparg HIGH LAMs as critical mediators of BAT homeostasis.

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
  • • This is preclinical work; animal or laboratory results cannot be applied to humans.

Evidence level

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

How we grade evidence
MacrophagesAnimalsMice, Inbred C57BLHumansMiceObesityPPAR gammaSequence Analysis, RNAThermogenesisMale

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