title: Human adipose tissue macrophages are enhanced but changed to an anti-inflammatory profile in obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adipose tissue (AT) macrophages are increased in obesity and associated with low grade inflammation. We aimed to characterize the phenotype of AT macrophages in humans in relation to obesity and insulin resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gene-expression levels of general macrophage markers (CD68 and CD14), proinflammatory markers/M1 (TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6), and anti-inflammatory markers/M2 (CD163, CD206, and IL-10) were determined by RT-PCR in subcutaneous AT samples from lean and obese subjects. Insulin resistance was determined by HOMA-IR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the macrophage markers were elevated in the AT from obese compared to lean subjects (P < 0.001). To determine the phenotype of the macrophages the level of CD14 was used to adjust the total number of macrophages. The relative expression of CD163 and IL-10 was elevated, and TNF-α and IL-6 were reduced in AT from obese subjects (all P < 0.05). In a multivariate regression analysis CD163 was the only macrophage marker significantly associated with HOMA-IR (β : 0.57; P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity is associated with elevated numbers of macrophages in the AT. Unexpectedly, the macrophages change phenotype by obesity, with a preponderance of M2 and a decrement of M1 markers in AT from obese subjects. Moreover, CD163 was the only macrophage marker associated with HOMA-IR after multiple adjustments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Endocrinology, MEA, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8470-240X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fjeldborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Endocrinology, MEA, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Steen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Holger J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Endocrinology, MEA, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Endocrinology, MEA, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennetzen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Endocrinology, MEA, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richelsen
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
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