Language

English

Publication Date

7-1-2024

Journal

Immunological Reviews

DOI

10.1111/imr.13338

PMID

38683173

PMCID

PMC11262992

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

7-1-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

White adipose tissue (WAT) is a vital endocrine organ that regulates energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. In addition to fat cells, WAT harbors macrophages with distinct phenotypes that play crucial roles in immunity and metabolism. Nutrient demands cause macrophages to accumulate in WAT niches, where they remodel the microenvironment and produce beneficial or detrimental effects on systemic metabolism. Given the abundance of macrophages in WAT, this review summarizes the heterogeneity of WAT macrophages in physiological and pathological conditions, including their alterations in quantity, phenotypes, characteristics, and functions during WAT growth and development, as well as healthy or unhealthy expansion. We will discuss the interactions of macrophages with other cell partners in WAT including adipose stem cells, adipocytes, and T cells in the context of various microenvironment niches in lean or obese condition. Finally, we highlight how adipose tissue macrophages merge immunity and metabolic changes to govern energy balance for the organism.

Keywords

Humans, Macrophages, Adipose Tissue, White, Animals, Energy Metabolism, Obesity, Adipocytes, Homeostasis, white adipose tissue, macrophage, obesity, immunity, metabolism

Published Open-Access

yes

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