Eosinophils are key regulators of
perivascular adipose tissue and
vascular functionality

Withers, SB; Forman, R; Meza-Perez, S; Sorobetea, D; Sitnik, K; Hopwood, T; Lawrence, CB; Agace, WW; Else, KJ; Heagerty, AM; Svensson-Fre, M; Cruickshank, SM

Abstract

Obesity impairs the relaxant capacity of adipose tissue surrounding the vasculature (PVAT) and has
been implicated in resultant obesity-related hypertension and impaired glucose intolerance. Resident
immune cells are thought to regulate adipocyte activity. We investigated the role of eosinophils in
mediating normal PVAT function. Healthy PVAT elicits an anti-contractile effect, which was lost in
mice deficient in eosinophils, mimicking the obese phenotype, and was restored upon eosinophil
reconstitution. Ex vivo studies demonstrated that the loss of PVAT function was due to reduced
bioavailability of adiponectin and adipocyte-derived nitric oxide, which was restored after eosinophil
reconstitution. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that adiponectin and nitric oxide are released after
activation of adipocyte-expressed β3 adrenoceptors by catecholamines, and identified eosinophils as
a novel source of these mediators. We conclude that adipose tissue eosinophils play a key role in the
regulation of normal PVAT anti-contractile function.

Citation

vascular functionality. Scientific reports, 7, 44571. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44571

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 9, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 17, 2017
• Publication Date: Mar 17, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 20, 2017
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Print ISSN: 2045-2322
• Electronic ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Volume: 7
• Pages: 44571
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44571
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep44571
• Related Public URLs: http://www.nature.com/srep/