Research
Macro partitioning
M2 macrophages in lean adipose tissue maintain insulin sensitivity by secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β) and utilizing oxidative metabolism, whereas obesity shifts this balance toward M1.
Maintaining a healthy weight helps preserve M2 macrophages in fat tissue, which actively protect against insulin resistance by reducing inflammation and supporting metabolic health.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
In lean humans and mice, the number of M2 macrophages predominates. M2 macrophages secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines and utilize oxidative metabolism to maintain AT homeostasis... Adiponectin enhances insulin sensitivity and increases M2 macrophage polarization.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple studies cited regarding M2 markers, cytokine secretion, and metabolic function.
Source
The Macrophage Switch in Obesity Development
Ângela Castoldi et al. · Frontiers in Immunology · 2016
DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00637
narrative_reviewCited 561×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- In obesity, the accumulation of classically activated (M1) macrophages in adipose tissue drives insulin resistance through the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and the activation of stress kinases (JNK, IKK, p38 MAPK) that inhibit insulin receptor signaling.Good
- Interleukin-33 (IL-33) improves insulin resistance and reduces adiposity by promoting the polarization of macrophages toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype and activating innate lymphoid type 2 cells (ILC2s).Moderate
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