Sex-specific adipose tissue imprinting of regulatory T cells.

ABSTRACT: Adipose tissue is an energy store and a dynamic endocrine organ^1,2. In particular, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is critical for the regulation of systemic metabolism^3,4. Impaired VAT function-for example, in obesity-is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes^5,6. Regulatory T (T_reg) cells that express the transcription factor FOXP3 are critical for limiting immune responses and suppressing tissue inflammation, including in the VAT^7-9. Here we uncover pronounced sexual dimorphism in T_reg cells in the VAT. Male VAT was enriched for T_reg cells compared with female VAT, and T_reg cells from male VAT were markedly different from their female counterparts in phenotype, transcriptional landscape

SUBMITTER: Vasanthakumar A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7241647 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature