Project description:Adipose tissue is an energy store and a dynamic endocrine organ1,2. In particular, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is critical for the regulation of systemic metabolism3,4. Impaired VAT function-for example, in obesity-is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes5,6. Regulatory T (Treg) cells that express the transcription factor FOXP3 are critical for limiting immune responses and suppressing tissue inflammation, including in the VAT7-9. Here we uncover pronounced sexual dimorphism in Treg cells in the VAT. Male VAT was enriched for Treg cells compared with female VAT, and Treg cells from male VAT were markedly different from their female counterparts in phenotype, transcriptional landscape and chromatin accessibility. Heightened inflammation in the male VAT facilitated the recruitment of Treg cells via the CCL2-CCR2 axis. Androgen regulated the differentiation of a unique IL-33-producing stromal cell population specific to the male VAT, which paralleled the local expansion of Treg cells. Sex hormones also regulated VAT inflammation, which shaped the transcriptional landscape of VAT-resident Treg cells in a BLIMP1 transcription factor-dependent manner. Overall, we find that sex-specific differences in Treg cells from VAT are determined by the tissue niche in a sex-hormone-dependent manner to limit adipose tissue inflammation.
Project description:Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a metabolically active endocrine organ that plays a critical role regulating organismal metabolism. Regulatory T (Treg) cells restrain VAT inflammation, and preserve insulin sensitivity and organismal metabolism. Here we report pronounced sexual dimorphism in VAT Treg cells, which were enriched specifically in males and differed strikingly from their female counterparts in phenotype, transcriptional landscape and chromatin accessibility. These differences were imprinted by the adipose tissue in a manner dependent on sex hormones. Male VAT was characterized by heightened inflammation, which resulted in CCR2-dependent recruitment of Treg cells. Sex hormones also regulated the differentiation of unique IL-33-producing stromal cell populations specific to the male VAT, which paralleled the local expansion of Treg cells and the induction of a transcriptional program controlled by transcription factor Blimp1. Overall our findings reveal a novel multi-layered feedback circuit depending on Treg cells and regulated by sex hormones to limit VAT inflammation.
Project description:Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a metabolically active endocrine organ that plays a critical role regulating organismal metabolism. Regulatory T (Treg) cells restrain VAT inflammation, and preserve insulin sensitivity and organismal metabolism. Here we report pronounced sexual dimorphism in VAT Treg cells, which were enriched specifically in males and differed strikingly from their female counterparts in phenotype, transcriptional landscape and chromatin accessibility. These differences were imprinted by the adipose tissue in a manner dependent on sex hormones. Male VAT was characterized by heightened inflammation, which resulted in CCR2-dependent recruitment of Treg cells. Sex hormones also regulated the differentiation of unique IL-33-producing stromal cell populations specific to the male VAT, which paralleled the local expansion of Treg cells and the induction of a transcriptional program controlled by transcription factor Blimp1. Overall our findings reveal a novel multi-layered feedback circuit depending on Treg cells and regulated by sex hormones to limit VAT inflammation.
