ArticleCell metabolism2021
Intercellular Mitochondria Transfer to Macrophages Regulates White Adipose Tissue Homeostasis and Is Impaired in Obesity.
Article in Cell metabolism, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 236 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
236 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 358 citations in OpenAlex.
- Mitochondria transfer research from cellular mechanisms to immune-inflammatory and translational frontiers: a bibliometric analysis from 2006 to 2026.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Pooled it
- Immune regulation in mitochondrial transfer: knowledge structure and emerging trends from a bibliometric perspective.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Pooled it
- Mitochondria-associated regulation in adipose tissues and potential reagents for obesity intervention.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Pooled it
- Mitochondria-Targeted Nanotherapeutics: A Promising Strategy in Modulating Mitochondrial Function, Transfer, and Transplantation.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Review
- Horizontal mitochondrial transfer and mitochondrial transplantation in skin: protection against UVR-induced ROS damage and enhancement of cell proliferation and wound healing.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Article
- Review
- Intercellular mitochondrial transfer and trans-mitophagy in response to protein import dysfunction.The Journal of cell biology · 2026Article
- Tissue mitochondrial activity dictates the macrophage pool size.Science immunology · 2026Article
- Mitophagy-mediated immune evasion: Shared strategies of pathogens.Redox biology · 2026Review
- Kinetic Control of Nuclear-encoded Mitochondrial mRNA Localization and Local Translation.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Review
- Mitochondrial Transfer from Glia to Neurons: A Novel Protective Mechanism Against Peripheral Neuropathy.Neuroscience bulletin · 2026Article
- Review
- Adipose Tissue-Central Nervous System Axis in Obesity: Molecular Mechanisms, Inflammation, and Nutritional and Technological Implications.Metabolites · 2026Review
- Mitochondrial quality control in health and disease: mechanisms and therapeutic targets.Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 2026Review
- Neuronal Mitochondrial Dysfunction Drives Astrocytic Mitochondrial Transfer after TBI: Reveals the Therapeutic Potential of astrocytic EV-Mito.Research square · 2026Article
- Context-Dependent Functional Outcomes of Mitochondrial Transfer: A Donor-Recipient Perspective.Advanced biology · 2026Review
- Therapeutic effect of mitochondrial transfer on bone tissue diseases: treatment strategy of mitochondrial transplantation and delivery technology.Journal of orthopaedic translation · 2026Review
- Horizontal transfer of mitochondria in cancer: The physiology reborn in disease?Trends in cell biology · 2026Review
- Mitochondrial Transport in Bone Metabolism Homeostasis: Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Therapeutic Strategies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
176 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
25 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that mitochondria can be transferred between cells to support the survival of metabolically compromised cells. However, whether intercellular mitochondria transfer occurs in white adipose tissue (WAT) or regulates metabolic homeostasis in vivo remains unknown. We found that macrophages acquire mitochondria from neighboring adipocytes in vivo and that this process defines a transcriptionally distinct macrophage subpopulation. A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen revealed that mitochondria uptake depends on heparan sulfates (HS). High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice exhibit lower HS levels on WAT macrophages and decreased intercellular mitochondria transfer from adipocytes to macrophages. Deletion of the HS biosynthetic gene Ext1 in myeloid cells decreases mitochondria uptake by WAT macrophages, increases WAT mass, lowers energy expenditure, and exacerbates HFD-induced obesity in vivo. Collectively, this study suggests that adipocytes and macrophages employ intercellular mitochondria transfer as a mechanism of immunometabolic crosstalk that regulates metabolic homeostasis and is impaired in obesity.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.