Adipose tissue NK cells manifest an activated phenotype in human obesity

• Published in: Metabolism, clinical and experimental Vol. 62; no. 11; pp. 1557 - 1561
• Main Authors: O’Rourke, Robert W., Gaston, Garen D., Meyer, Kevin A., White, Ashley E., Marks, Daniel L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.11.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adipose Tissue - pathology; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; CD3 Complex - metabolism; CD56; CD56 Antigen - metabolism; Cell Separation; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Flow Cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GPI-Linked Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - pathology; Intra-Abdominal Fat - metabolism; Intra-Abdominal Fat - pathology; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Killer Cells, Natural - pathology; Leukocyte Common Antigens - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; natural killer cells; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K - genetics; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K - metabolism; NKG2D; Obesity; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity - pathology; Phenotype; Receptors, IgG - metabolism; Subcutaneous Fat - metabolism; Subcutaneous Fat - pathology; Thinness - metabolism; Thinness - pathology; Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 - metabolism; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; PB; SVF; NKG2D; SAT; VAT; ATM; PBNK; Inflammation; PBMC; CD56; ATNK; peripheral blood mononuclear cells; adipose tissue NK cells; peripheral blood; stromovascular cell fraction; adipose tissue macrophages; subcutaneous adipose tissue; peripheral blood NK cells; visceral adipose tissue; Natural killer cell; Human; Obesity; Phenotype; Adipose tissue; Nutrition disorder; Endocrinology; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0026-0495; 1532-8600; 1532-8600
• DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2013.07.011

Adipose tissue inflammation is a cause of obesity-related metabolic disease. Natural killer (NK) cells are an understudied cell type in the context of obesity. The goal of this study was to determine the phenotype of human adipose tissue NK cells. We used flow cytometry phenotyping to study adipose tissue and peripheral blood NK cells from obese and lean humans. Human adipose tissue NK cells, relative to peripheral blood NK cells, express increased levels of activation markers. Adipose tissue NK cells also demonstrate an activated phenotype in obese relative to lean subjects, with increased expression of the activating receptor NKG2D. These data are the first detailed phenotypic characterization of human adipose tissue NK cells, and suggest a role for NK cells in adipose tissue inflammation in obesity.