[Inflammatory changes in obese adipose tissue]

Abstract

Evidence has accumulated suggesting that obesity is a state of chronic, low grade inflammation; it may represent a potential mechanism whereby obesity leads to the metabolic derangements. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the development of obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndrome, it is of great use to divide the obesity-related 'adipose tissue remodeling' into three phases; 1) adipocyte proliferation and hypertrophy, 2) macrophage infiltration, and 3) adipocyte-macrophage interaction. Elucidation of the molecular mechanism underlying the inflammatory changes in each phase of the obesity-related 'adipose tissue remodeling' may lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets that may reduce obesity-induced inflammatory changes and thus the metabolic syndrome.