Roles of the Chemokine System in Development of Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Cardiovascular Disease

The escalating epidemic of obesity has increased the incidence of obesity-induced complications to historically high levels. Adipose tissue is a dynamic energy depot, which stores energy and mobilizes it during nutrient deficiency. Excess nutrient intake resulting in adipose tissue expansion triggers lipid release and aberrant adipokine, cytokine and chemokine production, and signaling that ultimately lead to adipose tissue inflammation, a hallmark of obesity. This low-grade chronic inflammation is thought to link obesity to insulin resistance and the associated comorbidities of metabolic syndrome such as dyslipidemia and hypertension, which increase risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this review, we focus on and discuss members of the chemokine system for which there is clear evidence of participation in the development of obesity and obesity-induced pathologies

Chemokine receptors on the defensive – the surprising role of CXCR4 in brown adipose tissue

Obesity, which is triggered by over-nutrition and supported by the excessive expansion of adipose tissue due to hyperplasia and hypertrophy, has been linked to an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Since obesity-induced co-morbidities impose a significant financial burden on healthcare systems in Western societies, clear understanding of molecules and mechanisms supporting physiologic and pathologic activities of adipose tissue is mandatory. Abundant evidence shows that development of obesity is facilitated by a low-grade inflammation fueled by infiltration of pro-inflammatory leukocytes into white adipose tissue pads, which is in part mediated by chemokines and chemokine receptors. However, not all members of the chemokine system facilitate development of obesity. In this publication we highlight a surprising role of CXCR4 in fat cells where this chemokine receptor promotes energy expenditure and prevents excessive inflammatory leukocyte recruitment into adipose tissue, and by so doing, limits obesity

Roles of the Chemokine System in Development of Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Cardiovascular Disease

The escalating epidemic of obesity has increased the incidence of obesity-induced complications to historically high levels. Adipose tissue is a dynamic energy depot, which stores energy and mobilizes it during nutrient deficiency. Excess nutrient intake resulting in adipose tissue expansion triggers lipid release and aberrant adipokine, cytokine and chemokine production, and signaling that ultimately lead to adipose tissue inflammation, a hallmark of obesity. This low-grade chronic inflammation is thought to link obesity to insulin resistance and the associated comorbidities of metabolic syndrome such as dyslipidemia and hypertension, which increase risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this review, we focus on and discuss members of the chemokine system for which there is clear evidence of participation in the development of obesity and obesity-induced pathologies