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Interleukin-15: a muscle-derived cytokine regulating fat-to-lean body composition
1Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. quinnL@u.washington.edu
Journal of Animal Science
|August 22, 2007
Summary
Muscle tissue releases interleukin-15 (IL-15), a cytokine that reduces fat deposition and adipocyte metabolism. This muscle-to-fat signaling pathway influences body composition and may improve meat production efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Immune and inflammatory factors influence body composition, affecting fat and lean mass.
- Adipose tissue produces factors like leptin and adiponectin that impact muscle metabolism.
- Skeletal muscle plays a role in regulating body composition through secreted factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence for a reciprocal muscle-to-fat signaling pathway.
- To highlight the role of interleukin-15 (IL-15) in this pathway.
- To explore the potential of modulating this pathway for meat production.
Main Methods:
- Review of cell culture studies.
- Analysis of short-term in vivo studies.
- Examination of human genotype association studies.
Main Results:
- Muscle tissue releases the cytokine IL-15.
- Muscle-derived IL-15 acts on adipose tissue to reduce fat deposition.
- IL-15 signaling decreases adipocyte metabolism via a muscle-to-fat endocrine pathway.
Conclusions:
- A muscle-to-fat endocrine pathway involving IL-15 exists.
- This pathway modulates fat:lean body composition.
- Targeting the IL-15 axis offers potential for enhancing meat animal production.
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