Role of iNKT Cells in Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Insulin Resistance

This article, presents results of experiments which suggest that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells decrease the adipose tissue inflammation. A study using transgenic mice fed a high-fat diet reported that infiltration of human resistin-expressing macrophages into adipose tissue is a key mechanism for development of accelerated adipose tissue inflammation [Qatanani M et al. Clin Invest 2009]. Resistin interacts with CAP1 on macrophages, stimulating the secretion of inflammatory cytokines that interferes with the normal insulin signaling pathway, demonstrating that adipose tissue inflammation may mediate insulin resistance.