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High local concentrations and effects on differentiation implicate interleukin-6 as a paracrine regulator
Victoria Rotter Sopasakis1, Madeléne Sandqvist, Birgit Gustafson
1The Lundberg Laboratory for Diabetes Research, Department of Internal Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
Obesity Research
|March 27, 2004
Summary
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) acts as a paracrine regulator in adipose tissue. Increased IL-6 in enlarged fat cells may impair insulin action by affecting adipocyte differentiation and reducing adiponectin.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine with known systemic inflammatory roles.
- Its specific function within adipose tissue as a paracrine regulator remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of IL-6 as a paracrine regulator in adipose tissue.
- To assess the impact of IL-6 on adipogenic gene expression and secretion in situ.
Main Methods:
- Microdialysis was used to measure interstitial and circulating IL-6 concentrations in abdominal and femoral adipose tissue of healthy males.
- In vitro studies examined the effects of IL-6 on gene expression of adiponectin and other adipocyte differentiation markers.
Main Results:
- Interstitial IL-6 concentrations were approximately 100-fold higher than plasma concentrations.
- In vitro IL-6 exposure down-regulated adiponectin, aP2, and PPARgamma-2 expression in human adipose tissue.
- IL-6 gene expression and release correlated with adipose cell size both in vivo and in vitro.
Conclusions:
- IL-6 functions as a paracrine regulator within adipose tissue.
- Hypertrophic enlargement of adipocytes increases IL-6 production, potentially leading to adipose tissue dysfunction, impaired adipocyte differentiation, and reduced adiponectin, negatively impacting systemic insulin action.