Abstract
Obesity is characterized by a chronic and low-grade inflammation in tissues including the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic inflammation is considered an early and determining factor for the onset of obesity, a factor that occurs even before body weight gain. Within the hypothalamus, microglia and astrocytes produce cytokines that drive inflammatory responses. Astrocytes are directly affected by nutrient excess and might play a unique role in promoting hypothalamic inflammatory responses in obesity. This article reviews evidence supporting the role of hypothalamic astrocytes in obesity, and suggests a new approach for neuroendocrine research designed to reveal pathogenesis and develop novel treatment strategies against obesity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 57-66 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2013 |
Keywords
- Astrocytes
- Hypothalamic inflammation
- Insulin resistance
- Leptin
- Obesity