Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Isolation of Adipose Tissue Immune Cells
Published on: May 22, 2013
Association between interleukin-15 and obesity: interleukin-15 as a potential regulator of fat mass
Anders Rinnov Nielsen1, Pernille Hojman, Christian Erikstrup
1Department of Infectious Diseases Rigshospitalet, Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism, University of Copenhagen, Section 7641, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. rinnov@gmail.com
Objective:
IL-15 decreases lipid deposition in preadipocytes and decreases the mass of white adipose tissue in rats, indicating that IL-15 may take part in regulating this tissue. IL-15 is expressed in human skeletal muscle and skeletal muscle may be a source of plasma IL-15 and in this way regulate adipose tissue mass.
Design:
The relation between skeletal muscle IL-15 mRNA expression, plasma IL-15, and adipose tissue mass was studied in 199 humans divided into four groups on the basis of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, using a DNA electrotransfer model, we assessed the effect of IL-15 overexpression in skeletal muscle of mice.
Results:
In humans, multiple regression analysis showed a negative association between plasma IL-15 and total fat mass (P<0.05), trunk fat mass (P<0.01), and percent fat mass (P<0.05), independent of type 2 diabetes. Negative associations were also found between muscle IL-15 mRNA and obesity parameters. IL-15 overexpression in skeletal muscle of mice reduced trunk fat mass but not sc fat mass.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that IL-15 may be a regulator of trunk fat mass.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Obesity
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Regulation of Food Intake

