Excessive weight gain is associated with chronic inflammation, especially in the white adipose tissue and liver. This means that during obesity not only a quantitative change in adipose tissue occurs, but also a qualitative change. While initially it was shown that macrophages, specific cells of the innate immune system, infiltrate white adipose tissue in the context of obesity development, recent work has implicated a dysregulation of the recruitment of other immune cells such as lymphocytes and granulocytes in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated insulin resistance.

In this respect, the identification of the signaling pathways of this inflammatory immune response and the cytokines released that specifically lead to insulin resistance represents a crucial basis for the development of new pharmacological therapies. Our lab investigates how the central nervous system (CNS) regulates the recruitment and function of immune cells in adipose tissue.