Macrophage and Adipocyte Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Obesity-Induced Metabolic Diseases

Obesity is one of major health burdens of modern society as it contributes to the growing prevalence of its related comorbidities, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. A series of innate immune cells, especially macrophages, and adipocytes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity. Mitochondrial dysfunction, which is induced by obesity, are critical mediators in initiating inflammation in macrophages and adipocytes, and subsequent systemic insulin resistance. In this review, we discuss new findings on how obesity impairs mitochondrial function in macrophages and adipocytes and how this dysfunction contributes to obesity and its comorbidities. We also summarize drugs that treat metabolic diseases by targeting mitochondrial dysfunction.