Multiomics reveals persistence of obesity-associated immune cell phenotypes in adipose tissue during weight loss and weight regain in mice

Within adipose tissue (AT), immune cells and parenchymal cells closely interact creating a complex microenvironment. In obesity, immune cell derived inflammation contributes to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Diet-induced weight loss improves glucose tolerance; however, weight regain further exacerbates the impairment in glucose homeostasis observed with obesity. To interrogate the immunometabolic adaptations that occur in AT during murine weight loss and weight regain, we utilized cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing (CITEseq) in male mice. Obesity-induced imprinting of AT immune cells persisted through weight-loss and progressively worsened with weight regain, ultimately leading to impaired recovery of type 2 regulatory cells, activation of antigen presenting cells, T cell exhaustion, and enhanced lipid handling in macrophages in weight cycled mice. This work provides critical groundwork for understanding the immunological causes of weight cycling-accelerated metabolic disease. For further discovery, we provide an openaccess web portal of diet-induced AT immune cell imprinting: https://hastylab.shinyapps.io/ MAlseq.

Automated summary

The imprinting of AT immune cells that occurs in obesity persists during weight loss and worsens with weight regain, leading to impaired recovery of regulatory cells, activation of antigen presenting cells, T cell exhaustion, and enhanced lipid handling in macrophages. Understanding these immunological causes of weight cycling-accelerated metabolic disease is crucial.