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Updated: Jul 18, 2025

Isolation of Adipose Tissue Immune Cells
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NK cells vs. obesity: A tale of dysfunction & redemption

Conor De Barra1, Donal O'Shea2, Andrew E Hogan3

  • 1Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland.

Clinical Immunology (Orlando, Fla.)
|August 21, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Obesity impairs natural killer (NK) cells, crucial for fighting infection and cancer. This review explores how obesity affects NK cells and potential treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Metabolic disease research

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are vital immune cells involved in anti-infection and anti-cancer responses.
  • NK cells also play roles in tissue homeostasis, including within adipose tissue.
  • Obesity is linked to immune dysregulation, affecting both peripheral and adipose tissue NK cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current literature on natural killer (NK) cells in the context of obesity.
  • To outline the consequences of obesity on NK cell function.
  • To discuss the mechanisms underlying these effects and potential therapeutic interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on NK cells and obesity.
  • Analysis of NK cell roles in infection, cancer, and tissue homeostasis.
  • Examination of obesity-related immune dysregulation impacting NK cells.

Main Results:

  • Obesity leads to significant defects in peripheral and adipose tissue NK cells.
  • Dysfunctional NK cells in obesity contribute to increased cancer risk and infection susceptibility.
  • NK cell functions in adipose tissue, such as controlling macrophage polarization and adipocyte fate, are impaired.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity-induced immune dysregulation critically affects NK cell function.
  • Understanding these defects is key to developing therapeutic strategies for obesity-related complications.
  • Targeting NK cell pathways may offer novel interventions for obesity, cancer, and infections.
Keywords:
CancerImmunometabolismNK cellObesity

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