Adipoclast: a multinucleated fat-eating macrophage.

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Immunology
• Metabolic disease research

Background:

• Cell fusion and multinucleation in macrophages are crucial for physiological processes and disease states.
• Osteoclasts, multinucleated macrophages, resorb bone via cell fusion and metabolic activity.
• Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) in white adipose tissue (WAT) of obese individuals have been observed around damaged adipocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on adipoclasts and their functions.
• To analyze WAT macrophages from a fusion perspective using single-cell genomics.
• To explore the potential role of CD9 and TREM2 in adipoclast ontogeny and function.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of adipoclast functions.
• Analysis of WAT macrophages through a 'fusion perspective'.
• Examination of CD9 and TREM2 as regulators of fusion and multinucleation.

Main Results:

• WAT MGCs, termed adipoclasts, are functionally analogous to osteoclasts.
• Adipoclasts may perform specialized catabolic functions by phagocytosing lipid remnants.
• CD9 and TREM2 are identified as key plasma membrane markers involved in WAT macrophage fusion.

Conclusions:

• Adipoclasts represent a novel functional category of WAT macrophages.
• Targeting WAT macrophages could be refined by focusing on adipoclasts.
• Further research into adipoclast biology may reveal new therapeutic targets for obesity and related metabolic disorders.