Muscle-derived interleukin-6: lipolytic, anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced locally in working skeletal muscle and can account for the exercise-induced increase in plasma IL-6. The transcription rate for IL-6 in muscle nuclei isolated from muscle biopsies during exercise is very high and is enhanced further when muscle glycogen content is low. Furthermore, cultured human primary muscle cells can increase IL-6 mRNA when incubated with the calcium ionophore ionomycin and it is likely that myocytes produce IL-6 in response to muscle contraction. The biological roles of muscle-derived IL-6 have been investigated in studies in which human recombinant IL-6 was infused in healthy volunteers to mimic closely the IL-6 concentrations observed during prolonged exercise. Using stable isotopes, we have demonstrated that physiological concentrations of IL-6 induce lipolysis. Although we have yet to determine the precise biological action of muscle-derived IL-6, our data support the hypothesis that the role of IL-6 released from contracting muscle during exercise is to act in a hormone-like manner to mobilize extracellular substrates and/or augment substrate delivery during exercise. In addition, IL-6 inhibits low-level TNF-alpha production, and IL-6 produced during exercise probably inhibits TNF-alpha-induced insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. Hence, IL-6 produced by skeletal muscle during contraction may play an important role in the beneficial health effects of exercise
Original language | English |
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Journal | Pflügers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology |
Volume | 446 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 9-16 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0031-6768 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2003 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Exercise; Glucose; Glycogen; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Interleukin-6; Lipolysis; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Signal Transduction; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
ID: 8442632