Cited by 2,655Inflammasome and immune disordersAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesImmune Response and Inflammation

The NLRP3 inflammasome instigates obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance

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Vandanmagsar, Bolormaa, Youm, Yun-Hee, Ravussin, Anthony, Galgani, Jose E, Stadler, Krisztian, Mynatt, Randall L, Ravussin, Eric, Stephens, Jacqueline M +1 more·2011·Nature Medicine

Abstract

The emergence of chronic inflammation during obesity in the absence of overt infection or well-defined autoimmune processes is a puzzling phenomenon. The Nod-like receptor (NLR) family of innate immune cell sensors, such as the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (Nlrp3, but also known as Nalp3 or cryopyrin) inflammasome are implicated in recognizing certain nonmicrobial originated 'danger signals' leading to caspase-1 activation and subsequent interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 secretion. We show that calorie restriction and exercise-mediated weight loss in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes is associated with a reduction in adipose tissue expression of Nlrp3 as well as with decreased inflammation and improved insulin sensitivity. We further found that the Nlrp3 inflammasome senses lipotoxicity-associated increases in intracellular ceramide to induce caspase-1 cleavage in macrophages and adipose tissue. Ablation of Nlrp3 in mice prevents obesity-induced inflammasome activation in fat depots and liver as well as enhances insulin signaling. Furthermore, elimination of Nlrp3 in obese mice reduces IL-18 and adipose tissue interferon-γ (IFN-γ) expression, increases naive T cell numbers and reduces effector T cell numbers in adipose tissue. Collectively, these data establish that the Nlrp3 inflammasome senses obesity-associated danger signals and contributes to obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nm.2279

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  • In patients with NASH or animal models, expression of inflammasome components was increased, indicating a potential role in the pathogenesis of liver injury.

    “Either in patients with NASH or animal models, the expression of inflammasome components was increased, indicating the potential role in the pathogenesis of liver injury [226,227,288,289,290,291].”
  • Obesity, particularly central obesity, is strongly associated with a pro-inflammatory state.

    “Obesity — particularly central obesity — is strongly associated with a pro-inflammatory state52–54.”
  • Adipocytes in abdominal, intramuscular, liver, and pericardial fat can produce pro-inflammatory and chemotactic compounds such as IL-6, IL-1β, TNF, and CCL2, as well as hormones that modulate inflammation such as adiponectin and leptin.

    “Adipocytes in abdominal, intramuscular, liver, and pericardial fat can produce pro-inflammatory and chemotactic compounds, such as IL-6, IL-1β, TNF, and C-C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2), as well as hormones that modulate inflammation, such as adiponectin and leptin54.”
  • DAMPs such as heat shock proteins from dead adipocytes may signal through TLR pathways, activating NLRP3 inflammasome and promoting pro-inflammatory phenotype.

    “Additionally, damage associated molecular pattern molecules, such as heat shock proteins, released from dead or dying adipocytes may signal through TLR pathways, producing activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and promotion of a pro-inflammatory phenotype [75].”
  • Ectopic lipids induce Nod-like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome formation to trigger caspase-1, which subsequently activate IL-1β and IL-18, thus activating the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages resident in the skeletal muscle.

    “For example, ectopic lipids induce Nod‐like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome formation to trigger caspase‐1, which subsequently activate IL‐1β and IL‐18, thus activating the pro‐inflammatory M1 macrophages resident in the skeletal muscle.[ 66 ]”

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Authors
Vandanmagsar, B., Youm, Y.-H., Ravussin, A., Galgani, J. E., Stadler, K., Mynatt, R. L., Ravussin, E., Stephens, J. M., & Dixit, V. D.
Affiliations
  • Louisiana State University (US)
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center (US)
  • Louisiana State University System (US)
Corresponding author
Dixit, Vishwa Deep
Venue
Nature Medicine
Published
2011-01-09
Volume
17
Issue
2
Pages
179-188
ISSN
  • 1078-8956 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-170X
OpenAlex
W2150702412
Cited by
2,655
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 156 · 2025: 166 · 2024: 167 · 2023: 160 · 2022: 208 · 2021: 203 · 2020: 218 · 2019: 173 · 2018: 177 · 2017: 207 · 2016: 166 · 2015: 170 · 2014: 131 · 2013: 165 · 2012: 112
FWCI
62.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Civil War Book Review (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Louisville
  • Genentech
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG31797, R01AG031797)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K99 DK083615, R01DK090556, R00DK083615, DK083615, P30DK072476)
  • National Center for Research Resources (1P20 RR02/1945, P20RR021945)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Inflammasome and immune disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
Keywords
NLRP3 inflammasome, obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, dietary fat, lipotoxicity, ceramide, caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, interferon-gamma, adipose tissue macrophages, type 2 diabetes, caloric restriction, physical activity, innate immunity, damage-associated molecular patterns, T cells
MeSH terms
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein, Adipose Tissue, Animals, Carrier Proteins, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Glucose Tolerance Test, Humans, Inflammation, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Macrophages, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Obesity, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Caspase 1, Mice, Interleukin-1beta, Inflammasomes

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