FBR: Jaswinder K. Sethi BSc, DPhil, FRSB

Speaker: Jaswinder K. Sethi BSc, DPhil, FRSB
Professor of Immunometabolism
Programme Co-Lead – iPhD Biomedical Sciences
School of Human Development and Health
Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton

Obesity and immunometabolic health – mechanistic insights from adipose tissue

Abstract:

This seminar will explore the complex relationship between obesity and immunometabolic health, focusing on mechanistic insights derived from adipose tissue biology. The key concept that adipose tissue is not merely a passive energy storage site but an active endocrine and immunological organ that plays a central role in systemic metabolism. In obesity, dysregulation in adipocyte function and/or storage capacity is a hallmark of metabolic disease. The immunometabolic mechanisms that underpin this and drive metabolic diseases such as Type2 diabetes, MASLD and cardiovascular disease will be discussed. Overall, our studies underscore the importance of adipose tissue as a critical nexus linking immunity and metabolism.

A key theme of the talk is the dynamic interplay between adipocytes and resident immune cells. Obesity promotes the infiltration and activation of pro-inflammatory immune populations, such as M1-like macrophages, while reducing anti-inflammatory cell types. This shift disrupts tissue homeostasis and contributes to insulin resistance through the secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and adipokines. Sethi emphasized how these immune signals interfere with insulin signaling pathways in adipocytes and peripheral tissues.

The seminar also examined molecular regulators of immunometabolic dysfunction, including lipid handling, mitochondrial activity, and intracellular stress responses such as endoplasmic reticulum stress. Emerging evidence was presented on how these pathways integrate to influence both local tissue inflammation and systemic metabolic outcomes.

Finally, the talk addressed potential therapeutic strategies targeting adipose tissue inflammation and immune modulation. By restoring healthy adipose tissue function, these approaches aim to improve metabolic resilience and reduce obesity-associated comorbidities.