Visceral fat and gut inflammation
Maryline Drouet1, Laurent Dubuquoy, Pierre Desreumaux
1Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France.
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|January 3, 2012
Summary
Crohn's disease involves immune dysregulation, with "creeping fat" (mesenteric fat hypertrophy) playing a potential role. This review explores mesenteric fat's immune functions and new animal models investigating its role in intestinal inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Adipose Tissue Biology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease (CD), stems from immune system dysregulation influenced by genetics, gut microbiota, and environment.
- A novel hypothesis implicates mesenteric fat hypertrophy, termed "creeping fat," surrounding inflamed bowel as a hallmark of CD.
- Mesenteric adipose tissue is an active immune component, secreting cytokines, chemokines, and adipokines that influence inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on the immune properties of mesenteric fat.
- To present recent advances in animal models for studying "creeping fat" in CD.
- To introduce a new hypothesis regarding the role of "creeping fat" in CD pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of immunological functions of mesenteric adipose tissue.
- Analysis of recent developments in animal models exhibiting "creeping fat."
- Synthesis of existing data to formulate a new hypothesis on "creeping fat" in CD.
Main Results:
- Mesenteric fat actively participates in immune responses and inflammation regulation.
- Emerging animal models now allow for the study of "creeping fat" development and function.
- These models provide a basis for a new understanding of "creeping fat" in CD.
Conclusions:
- Mesenteric fat, or "creeping fat," is increasingly recognized for its active role in Crohn's disease pathogenesis.
- Further research using novel animal models is crucial to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which mesenteric fat influences intestinal inflammation.
- Understanding "creeping fat" may offer new therapeutic targets for Crohn's disease.
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