Multiple sclerosis (MS) targets the myelin sheath of central nervous system (CNS) neurons. MS is initiated by autoreactive CD4⁺ T cells, and obesity is known be associated with an increased risk of MS, particularly in women. A study in Cell Metabolism now identifies a female-specific mechanism by which obesity increases the risk of MS by promoting a pro-inflammatory T helper 1 (T_H1) CD4⁺ T cell phenotype.

To investigate these sex-dependent inflammatory signatures further, the researchers used a diet-induced-obesity (DIO) mouse model combined with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS in which T cells are autoreactive against myelin. EAE progression and symptoms were exacerbated to a greater extent by DIO (compared with normal-weight EAE controls) in female compared with male mice.

多发性硬化症 （MS） 靶向中枢神经系统 （CNS） 神经元的髓鞘。MS 是由自身反应性 CD4⁺ T 细胞引发的，已知肥胖与 MS 风险增加有关，尤其是在女性中。《细胞代谢》上的一项研究现在确定了一种女性特异性机制，即肥胖通过促进促炎性 T 辅助性 T 1 （T_H1） CD4⁺ T 细胞表型来增加患 MS 的风险。

为了进一步研究这些性别依赖性炎症特征，研究人员使用了饮食诱导的肥胖 （DIO） 小鼠模型与实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎 （EAE） 相结合，EAE 是一种 MS 小鼠模型，其中 T 细胞对髓鞘产生自身反应。与雄性小鼠相比，雌性小鼠的 DIO （与正常体重的 EAE 对照相比） 在更大程度上加剧了 EAE 进展和症状。