Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation
Published on: April 3, 2017
Lipid-associated macrophages and metabolic inflammatory diseases
Yuxiao Zheng1, Dezhen Tu2, Chen Dong1
1Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, Zhejiang, China.
None:
Lipid metabolism disorders have been identified in various chronic diseases that are also closely linked with immune cells and inflammatory microenvironment. As pivotal innate immune cells, macrophages exhibit remarkable heterogeneity. Lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs) have emerged as a distinct subtype, characterized by high expression of lipid metabolism-related genes and abundant intracellular lipid droplets (LDs). Accumulating evidence suggests LAMs at the crossroads of lipid dysregulation and inflammation during the development of various diseases. This review focuses on LAMs in four pathological contexts: the adipose tissue in obesity, the liver in lipid metabolism disorders, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, and the brain in neurodegenerative diseases. The features of LAMs, including specific markers, cellular origins, tissue-specific localization, and their regulatory roles in lipid metabolism, inflammation as well as tissue injury or repair within these pathological microenvironments, are discussed. Additionally, multiple LAM-related molecular targets and relevant clinical trials across different disease conditions are summarized, providing insights for future research and clinical translation in chronic inflammatory diseases.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Inflammation
Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...
Lipid Catabolism

