The pathogenic role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in high-fat diet induced insulin resistance

Abstract

Adipose tissue inflammation is central to the pathogenesis of obesity associated insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hepatic steatosis. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced adipose tissue expansion is accompanied by a progressive infiltration of immune cells, predominantly macrophages (Weisburg et al., 2003; Xu et al., 2003). At the onset of obesity, M2 macrophages acquire an M1 phenotype. Moreover pro- inflammatory cytokines produced by adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) exasperate local inflammation promoting IR via downregulation of IRS-I and GLUT-4 (Lumeng et al, 2007a; Lumeng et al, 2006).