LT
luzia teixeira
Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto
Porto, Portugal
About this Research Topic
This Research Topic is closed for submissions.
Background
The adipose tissue is increasingly recognized as an organ contributing to immune responses. Innate and adaptive immune cells populate adipose tissues and, in the context of obesity, can alter adipose tissue homeostasis and metabolism. Immune cells within adipose often show differentiation states that are distinct from those in circulation or in lymphoid tissues, suggesting that the adipose environment regulates immune cell activity. Changes in diet that lead to obesity can further alter the frequencies of regulatory or effector cells within adipose, potentially affecting local and systemic immune defences. The mechanisms leading to immune cell recruitment and maintenance within adipose remain enigmatic. The notion of resident immune cells in tissue appears to differ depending on the tissue, and the specific properties of adipose tissue resident memory T cells remain to be evaluated. Importantly, the adipose tissue can serve as a reservoir for microorganisms, yet relatively few studies have addressed the immunological role of adipose tissue in infected hosts.
The aim of this research topic is to provide further information about the immune cells present in adipose tissue and their contribution for host resistance or susceptibility to infection. Recent articles have shown, for example, that adipose tissue can be a reservoir of memory T cells with potential to protect from infection. On the other hand, other studies show that immunity to vaccines or to respiratory infections can be impaired in the context of obesity. Articles in this research topic will examine how adipose tissue controls the differentiation state of immune cells and how immune cells in adipose affect defence against infections. The local and systemic activity of AT immune cells would be important to assess. The respective role of hypoxia, vascularization, adipocyte as presenting cells, adipose mesenchymal stem cells as immunosuppressive cells, fibrosis on the phenotypic and functional properties of adipose immune cells are also important to evaluate.
We welcome the submission of original research, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:
• The role of adipose tissue and immune response during infections (parasitic, viral, and bacterial)
• The functions of specific T cells in adipose tissue during infections
• The role of innate immune cells in adipose tissue during infections
• The interaction between adipocytes and immune cells
• The contribution of metabolic cells to the anti-infectious activity
• The use of cutting-edge technologies to improve our understanding of cellular plasticity and metabolic switching in the adipose tissue during infections
• Treatments targeting adipose tissue and immune cells during infections
• The residency and migratory capacity of adipose tissue immune cells
Keywords: Adipose tissue, infection, immune response, T cells, B cells, macrophages, innate cells, vaccines, obesity
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
