Adaptive Immune Response in Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat: Role in Human Insulin Resistance

Adaptive Immune Response in Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat: Role in Human Insulin Resistance

The proposed study is designed to test the hypothesis that in human obesity, the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory T cells in fat tissue is in fact related to macrophage phenotype and insulin resistance, and how it is related.

This study is needed to confirm whether conclusions based on studies of visceral adipose tissue in mice are indeed applicable to humans.

We also want to determine the relationship between insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia and ability to lose weight in obese individuals.

Previous studies have found convincing evidence of the relationship between insulin resistance, T cell profiles, macrophage profiles and inflammation of the fat cells. This study will add human subjects to that body of evidence.

Overview Aim 1: Test the hypothesis that the balance of anti- inflammatory vs proinflammatory T cells is protective for systemic insulin resistance. T cell profiles in subcutaneous and visceral tissue and blood will be compared in IR vs IS obese humans at baseline and potentially after 12 months following weight loss. Tcell profile will be evaluated for relationships with IR and inflammation, with adjustment for total body fat. Secondarily, they will be evaluated for relationship to adipose cell size.

Overview Aim 2: Test the hypothesis that macrophage phenotype in adipose tissue is associated with T cell profile and IR. Frequency of macrophage phenotypes (M1 vs M2) will be analyzed in IR vs IS obese humans at baseline and potentially after 12 months following weight loss.

Overview Aim 3: Testing the hypothesis insulin resistance is associated with T cell receptor phenotypes in subcutaneous and visceral tissue. IR and IS subjects will be evaluated at baseline by sequencing of expressed TCRs in paired SAT, VAT, and blood. We will determine whether TCR phenotypes are shared between different IR individuals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current patients of Stanford Healthcare, Bariatric Surgery Clinic, scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery (sleeve or RYGB)
• BMI 30-55kg/m2
• 30-65 years of age
• good general health, no major organ disease
• non-diabetic by current American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria (fasting glucose <126mg/dl)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with any clinical or biochemical evidence of significant anemia, gastrointestinal, cardiac, hepatic or renal disease will be excluded.
• Subjects with other medical problems may participate as long as the problems are stable.
• Subjects with active psychiatric disorders or past history of bariatric surgery
• Pregnant or lactating women will also be excluded from the study, due to possible risk to the fetus or infant.