The major inflammatory mediator interleukin-6 and obesity.
Adipose tissue is one of the main sources of inflammatory mediators, with interleukin-6 (IL-6) among them. Although high systemic levels of inflammatory mediators are cachectogenic and/or anorexic, today it is a widely propagated thesis that in the background of obesity, a low level of chronic inflammation can be found, with IL-6 being one of the many suggested mediators. This paper reviews the studies describing elevated IL-6 levels in obese patients and the role of adipocytes and adipose-tissue macrophages in the production of IL-6. The secretion of IL-6 is regulated by several physiologic or pathologic factors: hormones, cytokines, diet, physical activity, stress, hypoxia, and others. Adipose tissue-derived IL-6 may have an effect on metabolism through several mechanisms, including adipose tissue-specific gene expression, triglyceride release, lipoprotein lipase downregulation, insulin sensitivity, and so on. Having a better understanding of these mechanisms may contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity.
Eder
Katalin
K
Research Group for Inflammation Biology and Immunogenomics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. ederkati@gmail.com
Baffy
Noemi
N
Falus
Andras
A
Fulop
Andras K
AK
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology*
D015850:Interleukin-6