The multifaceted life of macrophages in white adipose tissue: Immune shift couples with metabolic switch.

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)

White adipose tissue (WAT) is a vital endocrine organ that regulates energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. In addition to fat cells, WAT harbors macrophages with distinct phenotypes that play crucial roles in immunity and metabolism. Nutrient demands cause macrophages to accumulate in WAT niches, where they remodel the microenvironment and produce beneficial or detrimental effects on systemic metabolism. Given the abundance of macrophages in WAT, this review summarizes the heterogeneity of WAT macrophages in physiological and pathological conditions, including their alterations in quantity, phenotypes, characteristics, and functions during WAT growth and development, as well as healthy or unhealthy expansion. We will discuss the interactions of macrophages with other cell partners in WAT including adipose stem cells, adipocytes, and T cells in the context of various microenvironment niches in lean or obese condition. Finally, we highlight how adipose tissue macrophages merge immunity and metabolic changes to govern energy balance for the organism.

Evidence level

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

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