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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Immunol. 2010 Oct;31(10):384–390. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2010.08.001

Figure 2. T cells and adipose tissue.

Figure 2

Fat-associated lymphoid clusters (FALC), omental milky spots (MS), and lean fat in general (blue boxes) have features favoring immune regulation. A Th2 bias in lean fat may promote oral tolerance, parasite expulsion, and also prevent adipose expansion and inflammation. Lean fat is also enriched with regulatory T cells (Treg) that suppress multiple immune reactions, including expansion and activity of autoreactive lymphocytes, and also suppression of tumor immunity. Th17 cells are differentially regulated by obesity in distinct anatomical locations, and may contribute to autoimmune manifestations such as EAE. By contrast, obese fat (red boxes) has fewer Treg and a bias toward Th1 differentiation that likely contribute to the inflammatory state of obese adipose by stimulating macrophages and exacerbating autoimmune lesions. CD8 T cells may be differentially regulated by obese fat, depending on their involvement in autoimmunity versus infections.