Obesity is generally considered an inflammatory state. Vishwa Dixit and his colleagues have now shown that excess dietary lipids leads to the activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome, a sensor of the innate immune system, and that its genetic deficiency results in decreased inflammation and improved insulin sensitivity. These results suggest a possible new therapeutic avenue to treat the effects of obesity.
- Bolormaa Vandanmagsar
- Yun-Hee Youm
- Vishwa Deep Dixit
