Age-Related Loss of Innate Immune Antimicrobial Function of Dermal Fat Is Mediated by Transforming Growth Factor Beta (Immunity)

Dermal immature adipocytes fight against Staphylococcus aureus infection by secreting antimicrobial peptides during adipogenesis. Zhang et al. demonstrate that activation of the TGF-? pathway suppresses the adipogenic potential of dermal fibroblasts and therefore leads to an age-dependent loss of antimicrobial protection from dermal fat.