Interferon Triggers Adipocyte Immune Response

They found that exposure to gamma interferon caused the adipocytes to produce and secrete interleukin-15, a cytokine that stimulates T-cell activity. Circulating levels of gamma interferon are increased by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Binding of LPS by adipocytes caused the cells to produce and secrete a different cytokine, interleukin-6. These findings were published in the December 4, 2003, issue of the American Journal of Physiology.

"Our research documents a pathway by which the adipocytes participate in the immune response,” explained senior author Dr. Michael Spurlock, professor of animal sciences at Purdue University. "We have very clearly shown that interferon-gamma is increasing expression of cytokines in pig fat cells. The fact that fat cells actually promote or secrete factors, such as the cytokine interleukin-6, may be fundamentally linked to insulin resistance in diabetes. This makes adipocytes very important cells.”




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