Enrichment of Tc1 cells and T cell resistance to suppression are associated with dysglycemia in the visceral fat in human obesity.

OBJECTIVE

Insulin resistance, defined as tissue inflammation leading to type 2 diabetes, is a feature of obesity. The immune system has been implicated in its pathogenesis, but the role of adaptive immunity in humans remains uncertain. Here, we aim to determine whether specific phenotypic and functional properties of visceral adipose tissue (VAT)-derived CD4 conventional T cells (Tconv) and CD8 T cells are associated with dysglycemia in human obesity.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Peripheral blood and the stromal vascular fraction of obese patients without dysglycemia (n=23), with impaired fasting glucose or type 2 diabetes (n=17), and non-diabetic lean controls (n=11) were studied. Characterization of memory, activation profile, cytokine production, proliferative capacity, cytotoxic potential and transforming growth factor-β-mediated suppression of CD4 Tconv and CD8 T cells was performed. Correlation between anthropometric/metabolic parameters and VAT-derived T cell subsets was determined.

RESULTS

In the VAT of the overall obese population, reduced frequency of interferon-γ-producing or tumor necrosis factor-α-producing CD4 (ie, T helper 1, Th1) and CD8 (ie, cytotoxic type 1, Tc1) T cells, as well as interleukin-17-producing CD8 T cells (ie, Tc17), was evident when compared with lean controls. However, enrichment of Tc1 cells, together with the impaired ability of CD4 and CD8 T cells to be suppressed, distinguished the visceral fat of obese patients with dysglycemia from the one of non-diabetic obese patients. Moreover, accumulation of Th1 and Tc1 cells in the VAT correlated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Here, we define the VAT-specific characteristics of T cells in human obesity, showing that accumulation of Tc1 cells and T cell resistance to suppression can be harmful to the development of obesity-induced diabetes. These findings open new directions to investigate immunological targets in the obesity setting.