title: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) induces insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and is, like IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, overexpressed in human fat cells from insulin-resistant subjects.
abstract: Several studies have shown a relationship between interleukin (IL) 6 levels and insulin resistance. We here show that human subcutaneous adipose cells, like 3T3-L1 cells, are target cells for IL-6. To examine putative mechanisms and cross-talk with insulin, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were cultured for different times with IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). IL-6, in contrast to TNF-alpha, did not increase pS-307 of insulin-receptor substrate (IRS)-1 or JNK activation. However, IL-6, like TNF-alpha exerted long term inhibitory effects on the gene transcription of IRS-1, GLUT-4, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. This effect of IL-6 was accompanied by a marked reduction in IRS-1, but not IRS-2, protein expression, and insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas no inhibitory effect was seen on the insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Consistent with the reduced GLUT-4 mRNA, insulin-stimulated glucose transport was also significantly reduced by IL-6. An important interaction with TNF-alpha was found because TNF-alpha markedly increased IL-6 mRNA and protein secretion. These results show that IL-6, through effects on gene transcription, is capable of impairing insulin signaling and action but, in contrast to TNF-alpha, IL-6 does not increase pS-307 (or pS-612) of IRS-1. The link between IL-6 and insulin resistance in man was further corroborated by the finding that the expression of IL-6, like that of TNF-alpha and IL-8, was markedly increased ( approximately 15-fold) in human fat cells from insulin-resistant individuals. We conclude that IL-6 can play an important role in insulin resistance in man and, furthermore, that it may act in concert with other cytokines that also are up-regulated in adipose cells in insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Lundberg Laboratory for Diabetes Research, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rotter
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nagaev
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D006801:Humans; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; C526292:IRS1 protein, human; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; C526295:Irs1 protein, mouse; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C495692:SLC2A4 protein, human; C106644:SOCS3 protein, human; C495693:Slc2a4 protein, mouse; C491411:Socs3 protein, mouse; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014443:Tyrosine; D012313:RNA; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D005947:Glucose