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Updated: May 22, 2026
06:35
Studying Adipose Endothelial Cell/Adipocyte Cross-Talk in Human Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue
Published on: April 5, 2024
Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue as a Metabolic Mirror: Transcriptomic Insights Into Glycaemic Dysregulation
Gemma Vilahur1,2, Federico Carbone3,4, Aldo Bonaventura5
1Research Institute, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB-Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
European Journal of Clinical Investigation
|May 21, 2026
Summary
This study reveals that elevated glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in subcutaneous adipose tissue is linked to changes in immune cells and reduced structural and metabolic cell populations. These findings highlight adipose tissue
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) plays a crucial role in metabolic health.
- Elevated glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is a marker of chronic hyperglycemia and is associated with various metabolic complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular composition and transcriptomic changes in SAT related to blood HbA1c levels.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell RNA sequencing of human SAT.
- Analysis of cellular populations and their gene expression profiles.
- Correlation of cellular changes with blood HbA1c levels.
Main Results:
- Elevated HbA1c levels were associated with an expansion of immune cell populations within SAT.
- A depletion of key structural and metabolic cell populations was observed in SAT with higher HbA1c.
- Transcriptomic analysis revealed specific pathways altered in response to elevated HbA1c.
Conclusions:
- Blood HbA1c levels significantly impact the cellular landscape and gene expression of SAT.
- These alterations in SAT cellular composition may contribute to the metabolic dysfunction associated with hyperglycemia.
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