Obesity corrupts myelopoiesis

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Metabolic Diseases
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Monocyte infiltration and macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue are key to obesity's development.
• Chronic inflammation in adipose tissue contributes to metabolic dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanisms by which adipose tissue promotes inflammation in obesity.
• To identify specific molecular signals involved in macrophage activation and immune cell recruitment.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of immune cell populations in adipose tissue.
• Investigation of cytokine and alarmin expression in macrophages.
• Studies on the effects of specific signaling pathways on bone marrow activity.

Main Results:

• Adipose cells activate interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in macrophages.
• The alarmin S100A8/A9 complex plays a role in this local activation.
• This activation stimulates bone marrow myelopoiesis, increasing immune cell production.

Conclusions:

• Adipose tissue actively perpetuates inflammation in obesity through local immune cell activation.
• The S100A8/A9 alarmin pathway contributes to the sustained inflammatory state in obesity.
• Targeting these pathways may offer therapeutic strategies for obesity-related inflammation.