title: Modulation of IL-27 in adipocytes during inflammatory stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While it is well established that adipose tissue-derived inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenic mechanisms linking obesity with metabolic dysfunction, the inflammatory mediators involved have not been fully elucidated. Here, we explored IL-12 family cytokines with a focus on IL-27 during obesity-induced inflammation in mice and cultured adipocytes (ADs) following exposure to inflammatory stimuli.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relative mRNA abundance of IL-12 cytokines was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in genetically obese B6-ob/ob mice as well as C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet and in ADs following exposure to inflammatory stimuli. Protein secretion of cytokines into culture media was assessed by ELISA, and the biological outcome of IL-27 stimulation was assessed by RT-PCR and immunoblotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heterodimeric subunits constituting IL-27 were significantly induced in obese mice. While all IL-12 genes were markedly induced by inflammatory stress in cultured ADs, IL-27 protein was the only cytokine secreted into culture media in response to inflammatory stress. Cultured ADs also responded to IL-27 stimulation with divergent outcomes that were dependent on the inflammatory milieu of target cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the premise of autocrine/paracrine mechanisms involving IL-27 in ADs under conditions of inflammatory stress that may link obesity with inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Heesun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Ron F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C486767:Il27 protein, mouse; D007378:Interleukins