Similarly in 13 T2D individuals, the adipose tissue TLR8 protein expression determined by immunohistochemistry (shown for two individuals per group; Fig. 3a) and confirmed by confocal microscopy (shown for one individual in each group; Fig. 3b) was found to be elevated in obese (P = 0.0001) and overweight (P = 0.003) as compared with lean counterparts (Fig. 3c); and TLR8 protein expression associated with BMI in diabetic cohort (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001) (Fig. 3d). This evidence concerns the gene TLR8 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.