A new study from the University of Michigan has found that obesity leads to a complex inflammatory response inside fat tissue. The researchers used single cell analysis of gene expression combined with spatial transcriptomics to reveal previously unrecognized immune cell types and interactions within adipose tissue.
The study found that in obesity, fat cells expand and can reach a limit that ultimately causes cell death and leads to inflammation. The researchers also found that there is a diverse range of immune cells present in adipose tissue, and that these cells interact with each other in complex ways.
The findings of this study could help scientists to better understand the link between obesity and inflammation, and to develop new treatments for obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.