Association between Interleukin-15 and Obesity: Interleukin-15 as a Potential Regulator of Fat Mass.

Anders Rinnov Nielsen, Pernille Hojman, Christian Erikstrup, Christian Philip Fischer, Peter Plomgaard, Remi Mounier, Ole Hartvig Mortensen, Christa Broholm, Sarah Taudorf, Rikke Krogh-Madsen, Birgitte Lindegaard, Anne Marie Winther Petersen, Julie Gehl, Bente Klarlund Pedersen

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157 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: IL-15 decreases lipid deposition in preadipocytes and decreases the mass of white adipose tissue in rats, indicating that IL-15 may take part in regulating this tissue. IL-15 is expressed in human skeletal muscle and skeletal muscle may be a source of plasma IL-15 and in this way regulate adipose tissue mass. Design: The relation between skeletal muscle IL-15 mRNA expression, plasma IL-15, and adipose tissue mass was studied in 199 humans divided into four groups on the basis of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, using a DNA electrotransfer model, we assessed the effect of IL-15 overexpression in skeletal muscle of mice. Results: In humans, multiple regression analysis showed a negative association between plasma IL-15 and total fat mass (P < 0.05), trunk fat mass (P < 0.01), and percent fat mass (P < 0.05), independent of type 2 diabetes. Negative associations were also found between muscle IL-15 mRNA and obesity parameters. IL-15 overexpression in skeletal muscle of mice reduced trunk fat mass but not sc fat mass. Conclusions: Our results indicate that IL-15 may be a regulator of trunk fat mass.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume93
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)4486-93
Number of pages7
ISSN0021-972X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

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