European Congress of Endocrinology 2010
Prague, Czech Republic
24 April 2010 - 28 April 2010
European Society of Endocrinology
Macrophage dysfunction and insulin resistance
Wihuri Research Institute, Kalliolinnantie 4, 00140 Helsinki, Finland.
Obesity and associated insulin resistance are associated with increased numbers of infiltrating macrophages at various sites of white adipose tissue. The adipose tissue macrophages are considered to be a major cause of obesity-associated chronic low-grade inflammation. The macrophages present in adipose tissue secrete a wide variety of proinflammatory molecules including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). These inflammatory molecules may have both local effects on neighboring adipocytes and systemic effects on cells in other tissues. The combination of such paracrine and endocrine actions of the macrophage-derived molecules contributes to insulin resistance in white adipose tissue, muscle and liver observed in obese patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Endocrine Abstracts (2010) 22 S9.2