Body mass index and gastrointestinal inflammation: Bio-molecular pathophysiology

Figure 5 Self-amplifying cycle of chronic inflammation in obese adipose tissue. Obese adipocytes, undergoing endoplasmic reticulum stress and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasome triggering, release pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-18] and recruit M1 macrophages via monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Infiltrating M1 macrophages also trigger their inflammasomes and secrete additional cytokines, establishing a continuous feedback loop that maintains tissue inflammation. ER: Endoplasmic reticulum; NLRP3: NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3; TNF-α: Tumour necrosis factor alpha; IL: Interleukin; MCP-1: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; CCL2: C–C motif chemokine ligand 2; M1: Classically activated (pro-inflammatory) macrophage phenotype.