Adaptive Immune Response in Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat: Role in Human Insulin Resistance

The proposed study is designed to test the hypothesis that in human obesity, the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory T cells in fat tissue is in fact related to macrophage phenotype and insulin resistance, and how it is related. This study is needed to confirm whether conclusions based on studies of visceral adipose tissue in mice are indeed applicable to humans. We also want to determine the relationship between insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia and ability to lose weight in obese individuals.