A Tale of Three Systems: Toward a Neuroimmunoendocrine Model of Obesity

The prevalence of obesity is on the rise. What was once considered a simple disease of energy imbalance is now recognized as a complex condition perpetuated by neuro- and immunopathologies. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms underlying obesity....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of cell and developmental biology 2021-10, Vol.37 (1), p.549-573
Main Authors: O'Brien, Conan J.O, Haberman, Emma R, Domingos, Ana I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adipose
Adipose Tissue
Homeostasis
Humans
innervation
leptin
macrophage
neuroimmune
Obesity - genetics
sympathetic
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Summary:The prevalence of obesity is on the rise. What was once considered a simple disease of energy imbalance is now recognized as a complex condition perpetuated by neuro- and immunopathologies. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms underlying obesity. We examine the pleiotropic effects of leptin action in addition to its established role in the modulation of appetite, and we discuss the neural circuitry mediating leptin action and how this is altered with obesity, both centrally (leptin resistance) and in adipose tissues (sympathetic neuropathy). Finally, we dissect the numerous causal and consequential roles of adipose tissue macrophages in obesity and highlight recent key studies demonstrating their direct role in organismal energy homeostasis.
ISSN:1081-0706
1530-8995
DOI:10.1146/annurev-cellbio-120319-114106