Immune function in obesity

Abstract

Obesity is characterized by changes in immune cell number, location, and function, and the recruitment of pro-inflammatory immune cells into adipose tissue. Both the adipocytes and immune cells recruited to adipose fat stores secrete pro-inflammatory hormones, cytokines, and chemokines with paracrine and endocrine effects that promote an overall inflammatory environment. This pro-inflammatory phenotype has deleterious effects on health and has been shown to promote insulin resistance leading to type 2 diabetes, impair immune response to infection, and increase the risks of autoimmunity and cancer. Given that 500 million individuals are obese worldwide, the altered immune function in obesity presents a major public health problem. Future studies that target obesity-associated inflammation will be key for developing new treatments of many obesity-associated disorders.