Adipose tissue dendritic cells in steady-state

Abstract

Healthy white adipose tissue (WAT) participates in regulating systemic metabolism, whereas dysfunctional WAT plays a prominent role in the development of obesity-associated co-morbidities. Tissue-resident immune cells are important for maintaining WAT homeostasis, including conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) which are critical in the initiation and regulation of adaptive immune responses. Due to phenotypic overlap with other myeloid cells, the distinct contribution of WAT cDCs has been poorly understood. This review will discuss the contribution of cDCs in the maintenance of WAT homeostasis. In particular, the review will focus on the metabolic cross-talk between cDCs and adipocytes that regulates local immune responses during physiological conditions.

Keywords: adipose tissue; dendritic cells; steady-state; tissue metabolism.

Figure 1

Adipose tissue conventional dendritic cells (AT‐cDCs) in steady‐state. Schematic demonstrating potential mechanisms by which cDCs maintain adipose tissue homeostasis. In steady‐state, cDCs cross‐talk with adipocytes to control adipogenesis and lipolysis. cDC sample antigens in the lymph and interact with fat‐associated lymphoid clusters (FALCs) to modulate immune responses in the tissue.

Figure 2

Cross‐talk between conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and adipocytes. Schematic outlining possible mechanisms where cross‐talk influences cDC function to modulate adipose tissue (AT) immune homeostasis. Xbp1, X‐box binding protein 1; HIF1α, hypoxia inducible factor 1α; PPAR γ, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ.