Fat keeps metabolism in tune and on time using an inflammatory immune protein

The body’s clock is essential for anticipating daily environmental changes. Surprisingly, clock genes are highly expressed in innate immune cells that produce the inflammatory protein interleukin-17A, particularly in body fat. The clock drives a rhythmic production of this protein, which in turn contributes to the metabolic rhythms of fat. Immune cells that release the molecule IL-17A help to drive the metabolic rhythms of fat.