Thin Skinned: Aged Adipocyte Atrophy Impacts Innate Immunity

Trends Immunol. 2019 Mar;40(3):175-177. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2019.01.009. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Abstract

In a recent study, Zhang et al. (Immunity 2019;50:121-136) report that adipocyte atrophy in aged skin increases susceptibility to bacterial infection. Enhanced TGF-β signaling in aged adipocyte progenitor cells induces a fibrotic cell fate that lacks antimicrobial peptides produced by mature adipocytes, highlighting the importance of stromal cells as innate immune effectors.

Keywords: TGF-β; adipocyte; aging; bacterial infection; fibroblast.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / metabolism*
  • Adipocytes / pathology
  • Adipogenesis
  • Adipose Tissue, White / pathology*
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
  • Cathelicidins
  • Disease Resistance
  • Fibrosis
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Mice
  • Skin Physiological Phenomena
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology*

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Cathelicidins