Adipocyte autophagy-mediated signals in the control of macrophage phenotype during diet-induced obesity

A hallmark of obesity is a pathological expansion of white adipose tissue (WAT), accompanied by marked tissue dysfunction and fibrosis. Autophagy promotes adipocyte differentiation and lipid homeostasis, but its role in obese adipocytes and adipose tissue dysfunction remains incompletely understood. Using a mouse model, we demonstrate that autophagy is a key tissue-specific regulator of WAT remodelling in diet-induced obesity. Importantly, loss of adipocyte autophagy substantially exacerbates pericellular fibrosis in visceral WAT. Change in WAT architecture correlates with increased infiltration of macrophages with tissue-reparative, fibrotic features.