Inflammation and Metabolism
Intro
In this lecture, we’ll talk about the connection between the immune system and our metabolism. We’ll discuss how inflammation can change how fat cells, or adipocytes, function at a cellular level AND how those adipocytes can contribute to the inflammatory process in a feed-back loop.
We will talk about how exercise in particular is the path forward to breaking this vicious feed-back loop. Gut health will also be a topic of discussion as much of the inflammatory processes in the body often tie back to the gut.
key take aways
At the end of this lecture, you should be able to:
Name the types of immune cells in non-obese fat Name the types of immune cells in obese-fat
Describe the ways in which adipocytes change as the get larger due to increased fatty-acid deposition Describe how exercise can improve metabolic inflammation (there are 5) Understand (at a high level) the connection between the gut, the immune system and fat tissue
Key terms
Inflammation Leaky gut Th2 T cell Treg T cell M2 macrophage Th1 T cell CD8 T cell M1 macrophage Adipocyte Oxidative stress LPS
what is inflammation
hosts response to a perceived pathogenic invasion
inflammation is robust but short-term
Chronic inflammation is different. lower inflammation but constant
chronic viral infections - hiv, leaky gut stress - produces cortisol which suppresses immune responses
Obesity and inflammation
obese have 2-3x higher levels of inflammatory markers CVD. T2D, Several cancers, depression, inactivity
research has shown that adipose tissue isn’t just responding inflammation but generating it
How do adipocytes change??
as adipocytes get larger, oxygen can’t get to some of the tissue mitochondrial damage insulin signaling is messed with- resistance increased eventual death of the adipocyte
inflammation also changes activity levels
decreased physical activity is directly caused by inflammation
activity also reduces inflammation
- Improved insulin sensitivity
- Decreased de novo lipid generation
- Decreased endoplasmic reticulum stress
- Switching from M1 to M2 macrophage phenotype
- “Browning” of fat tissue
Could leaky gut be an inflammatory trigger?
yes.
LPS, and lower gut barrier
diet increases inflammation, inflammation drives obesity
- Inflammation changes the biology of adipose tissue
- Decreased insulin sensitivity
- Decreased oxygen delivery
- Increased mitochondrial damage
- Adipose tissue exacerbates inflammation by producing inflammatory molecules
- Focus on gut health, liver health, stress reduction and most importantly, exercise to break this cycle
- Anti-inflammatory supplements may provide benefit (Omega-3 signaling being reasonably well studied)
high fiber focus on liver health — science based liver detox reduce stress exercise