UC San Diego

Adipose tissue-resident macrophages (ATMs) are reported to be important for maintaining adipose tissue remodeling and homeostasis. ATMs were classified for the first time in 2007 into the M1 and M2 types. This theory suggests that in the non-obese adipose tissue, the anti-inflammatory, alternatively activated macrophages (AAMs) predominate, and regulate tissue homeostasis, remodeling, and insulin sensitivity. On the other hand, classically activated M1-type macrophages increase rapidly in obesity, secrete inflammatory cytokines, such as TNFα and IL-6, and induce insulin resistance. In recent years, experimental findings that cannot be explained by this theory have been clarified one after another and the theory is being reconsidered. In this review, based on recent findings, we summarize reports on the novel metabolic regulatory functions of ATMs beyond the M1/M2 paradigm.