Serum IL-15 and IL-15Rα levels are decreased in lean and obese physically active humans

Circulating IL-15 presence is required to stimulate anti-adipogenic effects of the IL-15/IL-15Rα axis in adipose tissue. Although exercise increases blood IL-15 expression post-exercise, it remains inconclusive whether physical activity can alter the baseline concentrations of this cytokine. The aim of this study was to determine whether physical activity regulates circulating IL-15 and IL-15Rα in lean and obese individuals. Two hundred and seventy-six participants were divided into five groups according to physical activity (PA), body mass and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) diagnosis: (a) lean PA (N = 25); (b) lean non-PA (N = 28); (c) obese PA (N = 64); (d) obese non-PA (N = 79); and (e) obese non-PA with T2DM (N = 80). Serum IL-15 and IL-15Rα, blood glucose/lipid profile and body composition were measured. Serum IL-15 and IL-15Rα decreased in PA participants compared to non-PA (P < .05), while IL-15 and IL-15Rα increased in obese with T2DM compared to obese without T2DM (P < .05). No differences were observed between lean non-PA and obese PA. Serum IL-15Rα was associated with fasting glucose (R² = .063), insulin (R² = .082), HbA_1c (R² = .108), and HOMA (R² = .057) in obese participants. Circulating IL-15 and IL-15Rα are reduced in lean and obese participants who perform physical activity regularly (≥180 min/week), suggesting a regulative role of physical activity on the circulating concentrations of IL-15 and IL-15Rα at baseline. Moreover, the relationship observed between IL-15Rα and glucose profile may indicate a role of the alpha receptor in glucose metabolism.