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Role of IL-6 trans-signalling in obesity induced insulin resistance and metabolic disease

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posted on 2017-03-01, 04:00 authored by Kraakman, Michael
Interleukin (IL)-6 is an immuno-modulatory cytokine dysregulated in obesity and implicated in the development of insulin resistance. Recently, the pro-inflammatory actions of IL-6 have been found to be mediated via a soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), termed trans-signalling. Here we report that components of IL-6 trans-signalling are altered in obese patients with type 2 diabetes and that plasma sIL-6R levels are associated with markers of adiposity, insulin resistance and adipose tissue macrophage content. In vitro studies revealed a novel role for IL-6 trans-signalling in macrophage chemotaxis. We then blocked IL-6 trans-signalling in transgenic mice that over-express a human soluble glycoprotein 130-Fc (sgp130Fc) fusion protein which specifically antagonizes IL-6 trans-signalling. These mice have reduced adipose tissue macrophage content despite exacerbated fat mass. Therapeutic administration of sgp130Fc, despite reducing adipose tissue macrophages, did not improve insulin sensitivity measured by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC) studies. These data demonstrate that blocking IL-6 trans-signalling in obese mice can rescue WAT inflammation, which fails to impact systemic insulin action. Based on these data, we suggest that targeting adipose tissue inflammation is not a viable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of insulin resistance in obesity.

History

Principal supervisor

Mark Febbraio

Year of Award

2015

Department, School or Centre

Biomedical Sciences (Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute)

Additional Institution or Organisation

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Campus location

Australia

Course

Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Type

DOCTORATE

Faculty

Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences

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