Combined B- and T-cell deficiency does not protect against obesity-induced glucose intolerance and inflammation

Obesity-induced inflammation is associated with insulin resistance and morphologically characterized by macrophage influx into the adipose tissue. Recently, various other immune cells, including B- and T-cells, have been shown to participate in modulating adipose tissue inflammation during the development of obesity. We show that HFD-feeding modulates the influx of B and T-cells into adipose tissue of obese animals, suggestive of a role of the adaptive immune system in the development of adipose tissue inflammation. Despite a lower bodyweight after HFD-feeding, gene expression levels of CD68, F4/80 and MCP-1 in white adipose tissue were enhanced in SCID animals that lack B- and T-cells. Moreover, conditioned medium from adipose tissue explants of HFD-fed SCID mice revealed increased release of IL-6 and CXCL1 compared to WT animals. Compared to WT mice, glucose tolerance was impaired in B- and T-cell deficient mice after HFD-feeding. Thus, complete B- and T-cell deficiency does not protect against HFD-induced adipose tissue inflammation and glucose intolerance. In contrast, SCID mice showed an increased pro-inflammatory status at the level of the adipose tissue in some cytokines. Our findings suggest that a delicate balance between various B- and T-cell populations controls adipose tissue inflammation.

► Macrophage influx into adipose tissue upon HFD-feeding is not ameliorated in the absence of B and T cells. ► Adipose tissue inflammation is enhanced in the absence of B and T cells. ► Glucose tolerance is worsened in animals lacking B- and T-cells.