Macrophages Switch: The Fate of Adipose Tissue in Obesity

Abstract

The development of Insulin resistance in obesity is associated with infiltration of immune cells in white adipose tissue (WAT). Especially macrophage infiltration in WAT is known to produce several proinflmmatory cytokines which induces the state of inflammation and impairs the insulin signaling and related pathways. Several animal and human studies have been conducted to unravel the mystery of metabolic dysregulation in adipose tissue because of chronic inflammation. A new and promising explanation is the switching of macrophages within WAT between M1 and M2 phenotype. In this short review, we addressed the recent advances in macrophage switch concept to explain the dysregulation of adipose tissue.