Publication: Immunology
Obesity is associated with adipose tissue inflammation that is involved in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The main source of inflammatory mediators in obese adipose tissue is macrophages. Recent animal studies suggest that Th1 and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells are detrimentally involved in the attraction and differentiation of adipose tissue macrophages, whereas Th2 and, predominantly, regulatory T cells (Tregs) act protective. IL-17, a proinflammatory cytokine that is produced by several cell types, including Th17 cells, is often associated with diseases that are characterised by tissue inflammation. However, the role of these immune cell types in obesity-associated adipose tissue inflammation has not been well-defined in human. Therefore, we aimed in the present work to compare the different immune cell types in the peripheral blood and adipose tissue of lean and obese individuals with and without diabetes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and adipose tissue biopsies were isolated from adult lean and obese subjects with and without diabetes and immunological parameters were assessed. Data on the imbalance of these immune cell types between lean and obese subjects will be presented together with data on the level of expression of specific markers as well as inflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokine and biochemical profiles. The data presented will generate the basic information required for developing an immunodiagnostic and/or immunotherapeutic strategy aimed at prevention/treatment of type 2 diabetes.