Lipid-associated macrophages reshape BAT cell identity in obesity
Abstract
Obesity and type 2 diabetes cause a loss in brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity, but the molecular mechanisms that drive BAT cell remodeling remain largely unexplored. Using a multilayered approach, we comprehensively mapped a reorganization in BAT cells. We uncovered a subset of macrophages as lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs), which were massively increased in genetic and dietary model of BAT expansion. LAMs participate in this scenario by capturing extracellular vesicles carrying damaged lipids and mitochondria released from metabolically stressed brown adipocytes. CD36 scavenger receptor drove LAM phenotype, and CD36-deficient LAMs were able to increase brown fat genes in adipocytes. LAMs released transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), which promoted the loss of brown adipocyte identity through aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (Aldh1a1) induction. These findings unfold cell dynamic changes in BAT during obesity and identify LAMs as key responders to tissue metabolic stress and drivers of loss of brown adipocyte identity.
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BibTeX
@article{sciarretta2026lipidassociated,
title = {{Lipid-associated macrophages reshape BAT cell identity in obesity}},
author = {Francesca Sciarretta and Andrea Ninni and Fabio Zaccaria and Valerio Chiurchiù and Adeline Bertola and Keaton Karlinsey and Wentong Jia and Veronica Ceci and Claudia Di Biagio and Ziyan Xu and Francesco Gaudioso and Flavia Tortolici and Marta Tiberi and Jiabi Zhang and Simone Carotti and Sihem Boudina and Paolo Grumati and Beiyan Zhou and Jonathan Brestoff and Stoyan Ivanov and Katia Aquilano and Daniele Lettieri-Barbato},
journal = {Cell Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114447},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05795578v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Lipid-associated macrophages reshape BAT cell identity in obesity
AU - Francesca Sciarretta
AU - Andrea Ninni
AU - Fabio Zaccaria
AU - Valerio Chiurchiù
AU - Adeline Bertola
AU - Keaton Karlinsey
AU - Wentong Jia
AU - Veronica Ceci
AU - Claudia Di Biagio
AU - Ziyan Xu
AU - Francesco Gaudioso
AU - Flavia Tortolici
AU - Marta Tiberi
AU - Jiabi Zhang
AU - Simone Carotti
AU - Sihem Boudina
AU - Paolo Grumati
AU - Beiyan Zhou
AU - Jonathan Brestoff
AU - Stoyan Ivanov
AU - Katia Aquilano
AU - Daniele Lettieri-Barbato
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Cell Reports
DO - 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114447
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05795578v1
AB - Obesity and type 2 diabetes cause a loss in brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity, but the molecular mechanisms that drive BAT cell remodeling remain largely unexplored. Using a multilayered approach, we comprehensively mapped a reorganization in BAT cells. We uncovered a subset of macrophages as lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs), which were massively increased in genetic and dietary model of BAT expansion. LAMs participate in this scenario by capturing extracellular vesicles carrying damaged lipids and mitochondria released from metabolically stressed brown adipocytes. CD36 scavenger receptor drove LAM phenotype, and CD36-deficient LAMs were able to increase brown fat genes in adipocytes. LAMs released transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), which promoted the loss of brown adipocyte identity through aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (Aldh1a1) induction. These findings unfold cell dynamic changes in BAT during obesity and identify LAMs as key responders to tissue metabolic stress and drivers of loss of brown adipocyte identity.
SN - 2211-1247
SN - 2211-1247
ER -