Distinct T cell subsets in adipose tissue are associated with obesity

In  this study, Martha Haugstøyl and colleagues performed a deep characterization of  T cells in blood and adipose tissue depots, using multicolour flow cytometry and RNA sequencing. Distinct  subsets  of T cells were associated with obesity and expressed the activation  markers CD26 and CCR5. T-cells also express obesity-specific genes that are potentially engaged in activating pro-inflammatory pathways, including ceramide signalling, autophagy and IL-6 signalling. These  findings increase our knowledge on the heterogeneity of T cells in blood, adipose tissue and in subsets that may play a role in obesity-related pathogenesis.