IL-6 is not necessary for the regulation of adipose tissue mitochondrial content

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Wan, Zhongxiao
  • MacDonald, Tara
  • Wright, David C.
  • Holloway, Graham P.
  • Chan, Catherine B.
  • Perry, Christopher G.

• Background Adipose tissue mitochondria have been implicated as key mediators of systemic metabolism. We have shown that IL-6 activates AMPK, a mediator of mitochondrial biogenesis, in adipose tissue; however, IL-6−/− mice fed a high fat diet have been reported to develop insulin resistance. These findings suggest that IL-6 may control adipose tissue mitochondrial content in vivo, and that reductions in adipose tissue mitochondria may be causally linked to the development of insulin resistance in IL-6−/− mice fed a high fat diet. On the other hand, IL-6 has been implicated as a negative regulator of insulin action. Given these discrepancies the purpose of the present investigation was to further evaluate the relationship between IL-6, adipose tissue mitochondrial content and whole body insulin action. Methodology and Principal Findings In cultured epididymal mouse adipose tissue IL-6 (75 ng/ml) induced the expression of the transcriptional co-activators PGC-1α and PRC, reputed mediators of mitochondrial biogenesis. Similarly, IL-6 increased the expression of COXIV and CPT-1. These effects were absent in cultured subcutaneous adipose tissue and were associated with lower levels of GP130 and IL-6 receptor alpha protein content. Markers of mitochondrial content were intact in adipose tissue from chow fed IL-6−/− mice. When fed a high fat diet IL-6−/− mice were more glucose and insulin intolerant than controls fed the same diet; however this was not explained by decreases in adipose tissue mitochondrial content or respiration. Conclusions and Significance Our findings demonstrate depot-specific differences in the ability of IL-6 to induce PGC-1α and mitochondrial enzymes and demonstrate that IL-6 is not necessary for the maintenance of adipose tissue mitochondrial content in vivo. Moreover, reductions in adipose tissue mitochondria do not explain the greater insulin resistance in IL-6−/− mice fed a high fat diet. These results question the role of adipose tissue mitochondrial dysfunction in the etiology of insulin resistance.

• Date created

  2012

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Insulin
  • Fats
  • Biosynthesis
  • Gene-expression
  • Mitochondria
  • Adipose Tissue
  • Enzyme Regulation
  • Insulin Resistance

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R32B8VR5K

• License

  Attribution 4.0 International