Adipose tissue macrophages: implications for obesity-associated cancer

• Published in: Military medical research Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Li, Bei, Sun, Si, Li, Juan-Juan, Yuan, Jing-Ping, Sun, Sheng-Rong, Wu, Qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Department of Pathology,Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University,Wuhan 430060,China%Department of Clinical Laboratory,Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University,Wuhan 430060,China%Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery,Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University,Wuhan 430060,China%Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery,Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University,Wuhan 430060,China 03.01.2023; Tongji University Cancer Center,Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University,School of Medicine,Tongji University,Shanghai 200092,China; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adipose; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adipose Tissue - pathology; Adipose tissue macrophages; Cancer; Humans; Inflammation - metabolism; Macrophage; Macrophages - metabolism; Neoplasms - complications; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Review; Therapy; Tumor Microenvironment; Adipose tissue macrophages; Obesity; Therapy; Adipose; Cancer; Macrophage
• ISSN: 2054-9369; 2095-7467; 2054-9369
• DOI: 10.1186/s40779-022-00437-5

Obesity is one of the most serious global health problems, with an incidence that increases yearly and coincides with the development of cancer. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) are particularly important in this context and contribute to linking obesity-related inflammation and tumor progression. However, the functions of ATMs on the progression of obesity-associated cancer remain unclear. In this review, we describe the origins, phenotypes, and functions of ATMs. Subsequently, we summarize the potential mechanisms on the reprogramming of ATMs in the obesity-associated microenvironment, including the direct exchange of dysfunctional metabolites, inordinate cytokines and other signaling mediators, transfer of extracellular vesicle cargo, and variations in the gut microbiota and its metabolites. A better understanding of the properties and functions of ATMs under conditions of obesity will lead to the development of new therapeutic interventions for obesity-related cancer.