White Adipose Tissue Is a Reservoir for Memory T Cells and Promotes Protective Memory Responses to Infection

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2017
Source:Immunity
Author(s): Seong-Ji Han, Arielle Glatman Zaretsky, Vinicius Andrade-Oliveira, Nicholas Collins, Amiran Dzutsev, Jahangheer Shaik, Denise Morais da Fonseca, Oliver J. Harrison, Samira Tamoutounour, Allyson L. Byrd, Margery Smelkinson, Nicolas Bouladoux, James B. Bliska, Jason M. Brenchley, Igor E. Brodsky, Yasmine Belkaid
White adipose tissue bridges body organs and plays a fundamental role in host metabolism. To what extent adipose tissue also contributes to immune surveillance and long-term protective defense remains largely unknown. Here, we have shown that at steady state, white adipose tissue contained abundant memory lymphocyte populations. After infection, white adipose tissue accumulated large numbers of pathogen-specific memory T cells, including tissue-resident cells. Memory T cells in white adipose tissue expressed a distinct metabolic profile, and white adipose tissue from previously infected mice was sufficient to protect uninfected mice from lethal pathogen challenge. Induction of recall responses within white adipose tissue was associated with the collapse of lipid metabolism in favor of antimicrobial responses. Our results suggest that white adipose tissue represents a memory T cell reservoir that provides potent and rapid effector memory responses, positioning this compartment as a potential major contributor to immunological memory.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

The role of adipose tissue in protective immunity is largely unknown. Han et al. reveal that white adipose tissue is a reservoir for memory T cells endowed with a distinct functional and metabolic profile. These memory T cells are able to protect against infection while inducing physiological remodeling of adipose tissue.


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