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Macrophage function in adipose tissue homeostasis and metabolic inflammation

Nature Immunology volume 24, pages 757–766 (2023)Cite this article

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 11 December 2023

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Abstract

Obesity-related metabolic organ inflammation contributes to cardiometabolic disorders. In obese individuals, changes in lipid fluxes and storage elicit immune responses in the adipose tissue (AT), including expansion of immune cell populations and qualitative changes in the function of these cells. Although traditional models of metabolic inflammation posit that these immune responses disturb metabolic organ function, studies now suggest that immune cells, especially AT macrophages (ATMs), also have important adaptive functions in lipid homeostasis in states in which the metabolic function of adipocytes is taxed. Adverse consequences of AT metabolic inflammation might result from failure to maintain local lipid homeostasis and long-term effects on immune cells beyond the AT. Here we review the complex function of ATMs in AT homeostasis and metabolic inflammation. Additionally, we hypothesize that trained immunity, which involves long-term functional adaptations of myeloid cells and their bone marrow progenitors, can provide a model by which metabolic perturbations trigger chronic systemic inflammation.

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Fig. 1: Macrophage phenotypes in the AT.
Fig. 2: Adaptive and maladaptive functions of ATMs.
Fig. 3: From obesity-related AT inflammation to systemic inflammation.

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Acknowledgements

Our research is supported by the European Research Council (DEMETINL to T.C.), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB-TRR 205, project A07 and AL1686/6-1 to V.I.A.; SFB-TRR 332, project B4 to T.C.), the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism-SMWK (Sonderzuweisung zur Unterstützung profilbestimmender Struktureinheiten der TUD) and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (A.W.F.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Triantafyllos Chavakis & Vasileia Ismini Alexaki

  2. Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of the Helmholtz Center Munich, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Triantafyllos Chavakis

  3. German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany

    Triantafyllos Chavakis

  4. Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Triantafyllos Chavakis

  5. Department of Medicine, Institute of Human Nutrition, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Anthony W. Ferrante Jr.

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  1. Triantafyllos Chavakis
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Correspondence to Triantafyllos Chavakis.

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A.W.F. receives grant support from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Nature Immunology thanks Lydia Lynch and Alyssa Hasty for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Primary Handling Editor: N. Bernard, in collaboration with the Nature Immunology team.

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Chavakis, T., Alexaki, V.I. & Ferrante, A.W. Macrophage function in adipose tissue homeostasis and metabolic inflammation. Nat Immunol 24, 757–766 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01479-0

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