Angiogenic role of LYVE-1-positive macrophages in adipose tissue.

Here we report the discovery of a characteristic dense vascular network (DVN) in the tip portion of epididymal adipose tissue in adult mice. The DVN is formed by angiogenesis rather than by vasculogenesis, and has functional blood circulation. This DVN and its subsequent branching may provide a new functional route for adipogenesis. The recruitment, infiltration, and accumulation of bone marrow-derived LYVE-1(+) macrophages in the tip region are crucial for the formation of the DVN. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the VEGF-VEGFR2 system are responsible not only for the formation of the DVN, but also for the recruitment and infiltration of LYVE-1(+) macrophages into the epididymal adipose tissue tip region. SDF-1, but not the MCP-1-CCR2 system, is a critical factor in recruitment and ongoing retention of macrophages in this area. We also demonstrate that the tip region of epididymal adipose tissue is highly hypoxic, and thus provides a microenvironment conducive to the high expression and enhanced activities of VEGF, VEGFR2, MMPs, and SDF-1 in autocrine and paracrine manners, to create an ideal niche for the recruitment, retention, and angiogenic action of macrophages. These findings shed light on the complex interplay between macrophage infiltration, angiogenesis, and adipogenesis in the tip region of adult epididymal adipose tissue, and provide novel insight into the regulation of alternative outgrowth of adipose tissue.

Brown Adipose Tissue Transplantation Reverses Obesity in Ob/Ob Mice.

Increasing evidence indicates that brown adipose tissue (BAT) transplantation enhances whole-body energy metabolism in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. However, it remains unclear whether BAT also has such beneficial effects on genetically obese mice. To address this issue, we transplanted BAT from C57/BL6 mice into the dorsal subcutaneous region of age- and sex-matched leptin deficient Ob/Ob mice. Interestingly, BAT transplantation led to a significant reduction of body weight gain with increased oxygen consumption and decreased total body fat mass, resulting in improvement of insulin resistance and liver steatosis. In addition, BAT transplantation increased the level of circulating adiponectin, whereas it reduced the levels of circulating free T3 and T4, which regulate thyroid hormone sensitivity in peripheral tissues. BAT transplantation also increased ß3-adrenergic receptor and fatty acid oxidation related gene expression in subcutaneous and epididymal (EP) white adipose tissue. Accordingly, BAT transplantation increased whole-body thermogenesis. Taken together our results demonstrate that BAT transplantation may reduce obesity and its related diseases by activating endogenous BAT.