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Review
. 2013 Feb;34(1):12-29.
doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2012.10.002. Epub 2012 Oct 13.

Innate immune activation in obesity

Carey N Lumeng  1
Affiliations
Review

Innate immune activation in obesity

Carey N Lumeng. Mol Aspects Med. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

The innate immune system is a prewired set of cellular and humoral components that has developed to sense perturbations in normal physiology and trigger responses to restore the system back to baseline. It is now understood that many of these components can also sense the physiologic changes that occur with obesity and be activated. While the exact reasons for this chronic immune response to obesity are unclear, there is strong evidence to suggest that innate inflammatory systems link obesity and disease. Based on this, anti-inflammatory therapies for diseases like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome may form the core of future treatment plans. This review will highlight the components involved in the innate immune response and discuss the evidence that they contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity-associated diseases.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Innate immune responders in adipose tissue
The cartoon depicts the leukocytes involved in adipose tissue inflammation in obesity. Resident macrophages (Type 2) present in lean states are retained and manifest an alternative activation state under the influence of eosinophils. Recruited inflammatory macrophages (Type 1) form crown-like structures (CLS) around dead and dying adipocytes and secrete inflammatory cytokines which can induced insulin resistance on neighboring adipocytes. Mast cells are found in association with the CLS in regions with high collagen deposition. Neutrophils contribute to the early immune response to obesity. Amplifying the function of Type 2 ATMs and eosinophils can attenuate the pro-inflammatory signals.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Complement contribution to inflammation and obesity
Overview of the complement inputs that activate immunity. Components elevated in obesity, contributing to inflammation, or secreted from obese adipose tissue are noted in Bold type.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Metabolic sensors of the innate immune system
The major classes of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are shown highlighting those implicated in obesity-associated inflammation. Proposed endogenous ligands for the Nod-like receptors (NLR), Toll-like receptors (TLR), and C-type lectin receptors (CLR) are shown. Downstream transduction pathways activated upon receptor ligation are shown as double arrows.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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