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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2012 Aug 20;0:84–92. doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2012.07.004

Figure 1.

Figure 1

The role of 12- and 15-LO in adipose tissue in the obese state. Excess consumption of energy demands an increased nutrient storage capacity of adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT). As a result, adipocytes become hypertrophic and stressed, leading to dysfunction marked by ensuing inflammation. Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), renin angiotensin system (RAS) markers, and ER stress markers by these stressed adipocytes and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of the WAT leads to chronic leukocyte-type 12-LO (12/15-LO) activation in the adipocyte and SVF and subsequent generation of pro-inflammatory lipid metabolites, such as 12(S)-HETE and 15(S)-HETE. 12/15-LO activity promotes further amplification of pro-inflammatory pathways, in particular the interleukin-12 (IL-12) pathway. This inflamed fat promotes the recruitment of macrophages and other inflammatory cells into the fat bed, further propagating the inflammatory autocrine cascade. In addition, WAT exerts paracrine and endocrine pro-inflammatory effects through secreted cytokines on various organ systems, including the pancreas, liver, and vasculature, leading to metabolic decline.