This contrasts to other rodent HFD studies where HFD-induced obesity increased aortic inflammation in males – characterized by macrophage infiltration and secretion of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemoattractant-1)52–54. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.