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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation
Published on: April 3, 2017
TRP channels associated with macrophages as targets for the treatment of obese asthma
Wenzhao Zhu1, Dinxi Bai1, Wenting Ji2
1Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Abstract:
Globally, obesity and asthma pose significant health challenges, with obesity being a key factor influencing asthma. Despite this, effective treatments for obese asthma, a distinct phenotype, remain elusive. Since the discovery of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in 1969, their value as therapeutic targets for various diseases has been acknowledged. TRP channels, present in adipose tissue cells, influence fat cell heat production and the secretion of adipokines and cytokines, which are closely associated with asthma and obesity. This paper aims to investigate the mechanisms by which obesity exacerbates asthma-related inflammation and suggests that targeting TRP channels in adipose tissue could potentially suppress obese asthma and offer novel insights into its treatment.
Insights
Obesity worsens asthma by affecting fat cells. Targeting TRP channels in fat tissue may offer new treatments for obese asthma, a challenging condition.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Obesity and asthma are significant global health concerns.
- Obesity is a major factor exacerbating asthma, creating a distinct obese asthma phenotype.
- Current treatments for obese asthma are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how obesity exacerbates asthma-related inflammation.
- To explore transient receptor potential (TRP) channels as potential therapeutic targets for obese asthma.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on TRP channels, adipose tissue, and asthma.
- Analysis of the role of TRP channels in adipokine and cytokine secretion.
- Exploration of TRP channel function in adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation.
Main Results:
- TRP channels are present in adipose tissue and influence thermogenesis and adipokine/cytokine release.
- These mediators secreted by adipose tissue are implicated in asthma and obesity.
- Obesity-induced inflammation may be modulated by TRP channel activity in adipocytes.
Conclusions:
- Targeting TRP channels in adipose tissue presents a potential therapeutic strategy for obese asthma.
- Further research into TRP channel function could provide novel insights into treating this condition.
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