Figure 2.

Stages of the neural degeneration process from adipogenesis.

(A) Adipogenesis: adipocyte differentiation, markedly generating pro-inflammatory mediators (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, insulin-like growth factor 1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and visfatin). Cytokines circulate through the vagus nerve, passing the blood-brain barrier, resulting in the activation of microglial cells in the hypothalamus. (B) Microglia naturally secrete inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (used in tissue repair) and prolonged activation of microglia results in brain inflammation. (C) Chronic neuroinflammation caused by obesity is characterized by selective inflammatory destruction in myelin, with damage to the axon.