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Updated: May 26, 2026
07:46
Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation
Published on: April 3, 2017
Autophagy regulates inflammation in adipocytes
Takeshi Yoshizaki1, Chisato Kusunoki, Motoyuki Kondo
1Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, Japan. yosizaki@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|December 14, 2011
Summary
Autophagy suppression in insulin resistance increases inflammation via endoplasmic reticulum stress. Activating autophagy or inhibiting ER stress reduces inflammation, highlighting autophagy
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Metabolism
- Immunology
Background:
- Autophagy is vital for cellular maintenance and survival, clearing damaged components.
- Insulin resistance in adipocytes leads to the accumulation of cellular damage.
- The role of autophagy in insulin-resistant adipocytes remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of autophagy in insulin-resistant adipocytes.
- To determine the relationship between autophagy suppression, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Main Methods:
- Examined autophagy and inflammatory gene expression in insulin-resistant mouse adipose tissue and hypertrophic 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
- Utilized an autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine) to assess its impact on inflammatory gene expression.
- Investigated the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress using an ER stress inhibitor (Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid).
Main Results:
- Autophagy was suppressed in insulin-resistant adipose tissue and hypertrophic adipocytes.
- Suppressed autophagy correlated with increased inflammatory gene expression and ER stress.
- Inhibiting autophagy exacerbated inflammation and ER stress; activating autophagy or inhibiting ER stress reduced inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Autophagy suppression exacerbates adipocyte inflammation through endoplasmic reticulum stress.
- Autophagy acts as a key regulator of inflammation in adipocytes during systemic insulin resistance.
- Targeting autophagy or ER stress may offer therapeutic strategies for insulin resistance.
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