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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Polarization and Characterization of M1 and M2 Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages on Implant Surfaces
Published on: December 6, 2024
Lycopene Alleviates Obesity-Induced Inflammation and Insulin Resistance by Regulating M1/M2 Status of Macrophages
Guanliang Chen1, Yinhua Ni1, Naoto Nagata1
1Department of Cell Metabolism and Nutrition, Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan.
Scope:
Adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) recruitment and polarization are pivotal in the development of insulin resistance. However, treatment modalities targeting ATMs remain limited. The effects of lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid compound, on adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in high fat (HF)-diet-induced obese mice are examined.
Methods And Results:
C57BL/6J mice are fed an HF diet or an HF diet containing lycopene (HF+LY) for 8 weeks. Lycopene attenuates HF-diet-induced glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia. Compared with HF mice, HF+LY mice exhibit attenuated adipocyte hypertrophy and macrophage infiltration in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Flow cytometry analysis of ATMs demonstrates that lycopene attenuated the increased number of ATMs in HF diet-fed mice. In addition, HF+LY mice have 23% fewer M1-polarized ATMs and 60% more M2-polarized ATMs than HF mice, resulting in the predominance of M2 over M1 in the ATM population. M2-dominant polarization is also seen in hepatic macrophages in HF+LY mice. Moreover, lycopene promotes IL-4-induced M2 polarization by increasing the phosphorylation levels of STAT6 and Akt in Raw 264.7 macrophages.
Conclusions:
Lycopene facilitates M2-dominant polarization in ATM, thereby attenuating HF diet-induced inflammation and insulin resistance in eWAT and the liver.
Insights
Lycopene, an antioxidant, reduces inflammation and improves insulin resistance in obese mice by shifting adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) to an anti-inflammatory M2 state.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition and Metabolism
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) polarization is critical in insulin resistance development.
- Current treatments targeting ATMs are limited.
- Lycopene is an antioxidant carotenoid with potential anti-inflammatory effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of lycopene on adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance.
- To examine lycopene's impact on ATM recruitment and polarization in high-fat (HF) diet-induced obesity.
Main Methods:
- C57BL/6J mice were fed either an HF diet or an HF diet supplemented with lycopene (HF+LY) for 8 weeks.
- Glucose tolerance, insulin levels, adipose tissue, and liver tissues were analyzed.
- Flow cytometry and Western blot were used to assess ATM polarization and signaling pathways (STAT6, Akt).
Main Results:
- Lycopene attenuated HF-diet-induced glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, adipocyte hypertrophy, and macrophage infiltration.
- HF+LY mice showed reduced M1 ATMs and increased M2 ATMs in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and liver.
- Lycopene promoted IL-4-induced M2 polarization in macrophages by enhancing STAT6 and Akt phosphorylation.
Conclusions:
- Lycopene shifts ATM polarization towards an M2-dominant phenotype.
- This M2-dominant polarization attenuates HF diet-induced inflammation and insulin resistance in adipose tissue and the liver.
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Published on: April 3, 2017
10:43Polarization of M1 and M2 Human Monocyte-Derived Cells and Analysis with Flow Cytometry upon Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
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