Targeting Regulation of Macrophage to Treat Metabolic Disease: Role of Phytochemicals

Metabolic syndrome encompasses a cluster of predictive metabolic risk factors, including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension. It is strongly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Given the increasing morbidity and mortality associated with metabolic syndrome, along with the limited availability of drug treatments, it is high time to investigate the pathogenesis of this condition and explore potential pharmacotherapies. Macrophages, well-known innate immune cells, play an essential role in maintaining tissue immune homeostasis and multiple physiological processes, including glucose and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation. Emerging evidence indicates that the effects of macrophages in metabolic syndrome are linked to macrophage-mediated metaflammation. Phytochemicals derived from natural plants have been shown to exert therapeutic effects on metabolic syndrome by modulating macrophage function. In this review, we sort out the role of macrophage-mediated metaflammation in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and summarise potential phytochemicals that target macrophages for the treatment of this condition.