Activation of invariant natural killer T cells stimulates adipose tissue remodeling via adipocyte death and birth in obesity [Research Papers]

In this study, we demonstrate that iNKT cells remove unhealthy adipocytes and stimulate the differentiation of healthy adipocytes. In obese adipose tissue, iNKT cells were abundantly found nearby dead adipocytes. FasL-positive adipose iNKT cells exerted cytotoxic effects to eliminate hypertrophic and pro-inflammatory Fas-positive adipocytes. Furthermore, in vivo adipocyte-lineage tracing mice model showed that activation of iNKT cells by alpha-galactosylceramide promoted adipocyte turnover, eventually leading to potentiation of the insulin-dependent glucose uptake ability in adipose tissue. Collectively, our data propose a novel role of adipose iNKT cells in the regulation of adipocyte turnover in obesity.

Source: Genes and Development - December 1, 2019 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Park, J., Huh, J. Y., Oh, J., Kim, J. I., Han, S. M., Shin, K. C., Jeon, Y. G., Choe, S. S., Park, J., Kim, J. B. Tags: Research Papers Source Type: research