Exercise-Induced Inflammation Modulation in Adipose Tissue

Adipose tissue is not merely a depot for energy storage but a dynamic organ populated by diverse immune cells whose activation states critically influence systemic metabolism. Exercise exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects within this tissue, counteracting obesity-associated chronic low-grade inflammation. Central to this modulation are shifts in immune cell composition and function: macrophages transition from a pro-inflammatory (M1) to an anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype, neutrophil infiltration is attenuated, and adipocyte-secreted factors adjust local cytokine profiles. Muscle-derived myokines, such as irisin, and muscle–adipose cross-talk via cytokines and adipokines contribute to the browning of white adipose tissue, enhancing energy expenditure and further dampening inflammatory signalling. At the molecular level, exercise induces changes in transcriptional networks, suppresses NF-κB activation, and reshapes microRNA landscapes in adipose-resident cells. These adaptations improve insulin sensitivity, reduce lipid accumulation and lower circulating pro-inflammatory mediators, underscoring the global significance of physical activity in preventing metabolic disease. Emerging evidence also highlights the role of exercise intensity, duration and modality in fine-tuning immune responses, offering practical guidance for personalised interventions.

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Exercise-Induced Inflammation Modulation in Adipose Tissue publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in exercise-induced inflammation modulation in adipose tissue across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs): Immune cells resident in fat tissue that govern local inflammation through distinct activation states.

M1/M2 polarization: The functional states of macrophages, where M1 denotes a pro-inflammatory phenotype and M2 an anti-inflammatory, tissue-repairing phenotype.

Myokine: A signalling protein secreted by contracting muscle fibres that exerts autocrine, paracrine or endocrine effects, including on adipose tissue.

MicroRNA: Short non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, influencing immune cell function and metabolism.

References

1. The effects of exercise on microRNA expression profiling in adipose tissue macrophages of mice. Frontiers in Immunology (2024).
2. Exercise and Adipose Tissue Macrophages: New Frontiers in Obesity Research?. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2016).
3. Exercise training attenuates neutrophil infiltration and elastase expression in adipose tissue of high‐fat‐diet‐induced obese mice. Physiological Reports (2015).