In obesity settings, monocytes exhibit an inflammatory phenotype associated with the increased expression of CD11b, CD11c and HLA-DR surface markers8,9, along with higher secretion of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and MCP-18,10. The gene discussed is ITGAX; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.