Estrogen Receptor α Protects Against Obesity-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction by Regulating VAT Tregs (oVAT)
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ABSTRACT: Estrogens are important for metabolic health. Individuals with low levels of circulating estrogens, including men and postmenopausal women, exhibit an elevated risk for developing obesity-associated metabolic syndromes. Chronic low-grade inflammation in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a major contributor to metabolic dysfunction during obesity. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the VAT limit tissue inflammation and protect against obesity-associated metabolic disease. In this study, we identify opposing roles of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in regulating VAT Tregs in female mice under steady-state and obese conditions. At steady state, ERα restrained the age-dependent clonal expansion of specific VAT Treg subsets expressing the IL-33 receptor ST2. However, during obesity, ERα-deficiency predisposed females to the loss of ST2+ VAT Tregs, exacerbating VAT inflammation and insulin resistance. These findings indicate that ERα signaling protects against obesity-induced metabolic diseases by preserving metabolically protective ST2+ VAT Treg subsets, and the loss of this protection may contribute to the heightened metabolic risk in estrogen-deficient individuals.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE312696 | GEO | 2026/02/13
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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