Sex-specific regulation of adipose tissue immune cells
-
Project Leader
Professor Axel Kallies+61 3 9035 4611
Project Details
Adipose tissue is an energy store and a vital endocrine organ, which plays a central role in maintaining organismal metabolism. It also contains a large number and diversity of immune cells, most notably Treg cells that are critical in maintaining adipose tissue health. Impairments in adipose tissue immune cells result in obesity and metabolic disease, such as type 2 diabetes. We have found striking differences in the composition of immune and stromal cells within the adipose, controlled by sex hormones. This project aims to understand sex-specific immune cell regulation and its consequences for the development of metabolic disease.