Figure 1.

Role of crown‐like structure (CLS) in obesity‐induced ‘metabolic’ tissue remodeling in adipose tissue and liver. Mincle, a novel sensor for cell death, is exclusively expressed in the CD11c‐positive macrophages constituting CLS in obese adipose tissue. When activated by currently unknown endogenous ligands, Mincle potently induces myofibroblast formation and interstitial fibrosis. There is a similar histological structure termed hepatic CLS in the liver during the disease progression from simple steatosis to non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Thus, CLS plays a critical role in driving ‘metabolic’ tissue remodeling.