Adipose tissue macrophages in the development of obesity-induced inflammation, insulin resistance and type 2 Diabetes

It has been increasingly accepted that chronic subacute inflammation plays an important role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 Diabetes in animals and humans. Particularly supporting this is that suppression of systemic inflammation in type 2 Diabetes improves glycemic control; this also points to a new potential therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 Diabetes. Recent studies strongly suggest that obesity-induced inflammation is mainly mediated by tissue resident immune cells, with particular attention being focused on adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). This review delineates the current progress made in understanding obesity-induced inflammation and the roles ATMs play in this process.