Research progress into adipose tissue macrophages and insulin resistance

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)

In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular events related to insulin resistance. As one of the target organs for insulin, adipose tissue is essential for maintaining in vivo immune homeostasis and metabolic regulation. Currently, the specific adipose tissue mechanisms involved in insulin resistance remain incompletely understood. There is increasing evidence that the process of insulin resistance is mostly accompanied by a dramatic increase in the number and phenotypic changes of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). In this review, we discuss the origins and functions of ATMs, some regulatory factors of ATM phenotypes, and the mechanisms through which ATMs mediate insulin resistance. We explore how ATM phenotypes contribute to insulin resistance in adipose tissue. We expect that modulation of ATM phenotypes will provide a novel strategy for the treatment of diseases associated with insulin resistance.

Evidence level

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

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