CD36 deficiency blunts effects of diet on regulatory T cells in murine gonadal adipose tissue and mesenteric lymph nodes

Abstract The effect of cluster of differentiation (CD)36 on regulatory T cells (T reg ) was investigated in gonadal (GN) adipose tissues and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of wild-type (WT) and CD36 deficient (CD36 −/− ) mice kept on standard fat (SFD, lean) or on high fat diet (HFD, obese). GN adipose tissue mass was smaller, but MLN size larger for obese CD36 −/− versus obese WT mice. Overall, the reduction of T reg cells in GN adipose tissue and MLN after a HFD is much more prominent in WT than CD36 −/− mice. Moreover, CD36 −/− mice may be protected against obesity-related chronic inflammation.