Immune cell cholinergic signaling in adipose thermoregulation and immunometabolism.

Yingxu Ma, Heejin Jun, Jun Wu

Journal: Trends in immunology 2022;43(9):718-727

PMID: 35931611

Free Full Text on PubMed Central View on PubMed

Abstract

Research focusing on adipose immunometabolism has been expanded from inflammation in white fat during obesity development to immune cell function regulating thermogenic fat, energy expenditure, and systemic metabolism. This opinion discusses our current understanding of how resident immune cells within the thermogenic fat niche may regulate whole-body energy homeostasis. Furthermore, various types of immune cells can synthesize acetylcholine (ACh) and regulate important physiological functions. We highlight a unique subset of cholinergic macrophages within subcutaneous adipose tissue, termed cholinergic adipose macrophages (ChAMs); these macrophages interact with beige adipocytes through cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 2 subunit (CHRNA2) signaling to induce adaptive thermogenesis. We posit that these newly identified thermoregulatory macrophages may broaden our view of immune system functions for maintaining metabolic homeostasis and potentially treating obesity and metabolic disorders.

Address: Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.; Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.; Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2022.07.006

Link outs

Free resources

Full Text Sources:

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Adipocytes, Beige, Adipose Tissue, Cholinergic Agents, Humans, Obesity, Thermogenesis