The worldwide prevalence of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions, not only in our Western societies but also in developing countries. Among various pathophysiological underlying mechanisms, the obesity-associated chronic low-grade inflammation, also called meta-inflammation, contributes to the development of insulin resistance and dysregulated glucose/lipid metabolism, ultimately leading to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), type 2 diabetes and associated cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. During the last decade, landmark studies in the emerging field of immunometabolism have highlighted the central role played by the immune system in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis in both rodent and humans. Indeed, a growing repertoire of innate and adaptive immune cells have been reported to populate metabolic organs, including adipose tissue, liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, intestine and some brain areas, and to contribute to tissue-specific maintenance of insulin sensitivity and/or biological functions through complex but yet incompletely understood crosstalk with metabolic cells. This finely-tuned and dynamic homeostatic system is altered in the context of obesity and metabolic disorders, bringing up the idea that modulation of immune environment in metabolic organs could constitute an attractive new therapeutic approach for alleviating meta-inflammation and cardiometabolic diseases.
In the framework of this Research Topic, submission of both Original Research manuscripts and Reviews/Mini-Reviews/Perspective/Opinion articles will be encouraged on any relevant subjects dealing with the immune regulation of metabolic homeostasis in health and diseases, including but not restricted to the following themes:
· Characterization and role of various immune cell populations in organ-specific regulation of metabolic functions and/or systemic meta-inflammation and metabolic homeostasis
· Contribution of gut microbiota and/or central nervous system to the regulation of peripheral immune response and metabolic homeostasis during obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
· Role of tissue microenvironment (nutrients, metabolites, oxygen,…) and/or any cellular signaling in the regulation of immune cell metabolism and functions in metabolic organs
· Methods/strategies for manipulating the immune system to alleviate meta-inflammation and/or restore cardiometabolic homeostasis (e.g. immune cell-specific targeted drug delivery, use of biomaterials, immunomodulation with parasite molecules or dietary intervention with probiotics…)
· Link between obesity/type 2 diabetes, dysregulated innate immune responses and increased risk for both bacterial and viral infections
· Epidemiological studies focusing on the relationships between altered immune responses and incidence/prevalence of obesity, NAFLD, NASH, type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular diseases in various environmental contexts and populations
· Clinical trials investigating novel approaches for the prevention and treatment of hyper-inflammatory cardiometabolic diseases
- Links with bone metabolism
The worldwide prevalence of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions, not only in our Western societies but also in developing countries. Among various pathophysiological underlying mechanisms, the obesity-associated chronic low-grade inflammation, also called meta-inflammation, contributes to the development of insulin resistance and dysregulated glucose/lipid metabolism, ultimately leading to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), type 2 diabetes and associated cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. During the last decade, landmark studies in the emerging field of immunometabolism have highlighted the central role played by the immune system in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis in both rodent and humans. Indeed, a growing repertoire of innate and adaptive immune cells have been reported to populate metabolic organs, including adipose tissue, liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, intestine and some brain areas, and to contribute to tissue-specific maintenance of insulin sensitivity and/or biological functions through complex but yet incompletely understood crosstalk with metabolic cells. This finely-tuned and dynamic homeostatic system is altered in the context of obesity and metabolic disorders, bringing up the idea that modulation of immune environment in metabolic organs could constitute an attractive new therapeutic approach for alleviating meta-inflammation and cardiometabolic diseases.
In the framework of this Research Topic, submission of both Original Research manuscripts and Reviews/Mini-Reviews/Perspective/Opinion articles will be encouraged on any relevant subjects dealing with the immune regulation of metabolic homeostasis in health and diseases, including but not restricted to the following themes:
· Characterization and role of various immune cell populations in organ-specific regulation of metabolic functions and/or systemic meta-inflammation and metabolic homeostasis
· Contribution of gut microbiota and/or central nervous system to the regulation of peripheral immune response and metabolic homeostasis during obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
· Role of tissue microenvironment (nutrients, metabolites, oxygen,…) and/or any cellular signaling in the regulation of immune cell metabolism and functions in metabolic organs
· Methods/strategies for manipulating the immune system to alleviate meta-inflammation and/or restore cardiometabolic homeostasis (e.g. immune cell-specific targeted drug delivery, use of biomaterials, immunomodulation with parasite molecules or dietary intervention with probiotics…)
· Link between obesity/type 2 diabetes, dysregulated innate immune responses and increased risk for both bacterial and viral infections
· Epidemiological studies focusing on the relationships between altered immune responses and incidence/prevalence of obesity, NAFLD, NASH, type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular diseases in various environmental contexts and populations
· Clinical trials investigating novel approaches for the prevention and treatment of hyper-inflammatory cardiometabolic diseases
- Links with bone metabolism
