[Obesity, inflammation and diabetes].
Integration of metabolism and immunity in normal physiology is beneficial to maintain homeostasis. It can also become deleterious under conditions such as the immunosuppression observed among the malnourished. With the increase of excess weight and obesity, a new set of problems and complications has emerged at the intersection of metabolic activity and immunity. As examples of the latter we find obesity associated with inflammatory diseases, diabetes, fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis. Obesity is characterized by inflammation; there are common factors at the crossroads of inflammation and metabolic disease. Obesity is characterized by an inflammatory response and many inflammatory mediators exhibit expression patterns that interfere with insulin action. The high level of coordination of inflammatory and metabolic pathways is highlighted by the overlapping biology of macrophage and adipocite function observed in obesity. The intracellular signaling pathways activated by inflammatory and stress responses inhibit insulin signaling and the loss of inflammatory mediators prevents insulin resistance. In the absence of obesity, an infusion of inflammatory cytokines or lipids causes insulin resistance. Understanding the mechanisms leading from obesity to inflammation will have important implications to help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with obesity by preventing its association with inflammatory disorders.
Miranda-Garduño
Luis Miguel
LM
Departamento de Endocrinología y Metabolismo, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, SSA, México D.F., México.
Reza-Albarrán
Alfredo
A
D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism