Abstract
Obesity Obesity can induce chronic inflammation and subsequent insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes), but how this happens has been a nagging question. Nishimoto et al. found that degenerating adipocytes (fat cells) release DNA (known as cell-free DNA or cfDNA) that attracts macrophages to the adipose tissue, thus initiating or exacerbating inflammation. Toll-like receptor 9 was involved in recognizing the cfDNA. Genetic deletion of the receptor reduced both macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue and insulin resistance. Thus, the receptor may represent a therapeutic target for obesity-related diseases. Sci. Adv. 2 , 10.1126.sciadv.01332 (2016).
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