On the site and mechanism of action of the anti-obesity effects of interleukin-6.

• We conducted an experimental study examining the site and mechanism of action of the anti-obesity effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mice and rats. We used dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and computerized tomography to investigate the body composition of mice with knockout of the IL-6 gene and wild-type control mice. Rats were treated with IL-6 or vehicle through intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannulae. Energy expenditure was measured as oxygen consumption by indirect calorimetry in metabolic chambers. Results showed that the mice lacking IL-6 increased in body weight compared with wild-type mice from 6 months of age onward, although there was no marked difference in food intake between the pre-obese IL-6 knockout mice and the wild-type mice. IL-6 given as a single ICV injection to rats stimulated oxygen consumption; whereas, the same doses were ineffective when given peripherally. Chronic ICV IL-6 treatment decreased body weight and fat mass in rodents. Administration of IL-6 may decrease fat mass in mice and rats by stimulating energy expenditure at the CNS level, possibly in the hypothalamus.

Keyword

Adipose Tissue

drug effects

Animals

Anti-Obesity Agents

pharmacology

Blood Glucose

metabolism

Body Weight

drug effects

Brain

drug effects

Energy Metabolism

drug effects

Injections

Intraventricular

Interleukin-6

pharmacology

physiology

Mice

Mice

Knockout

Obesity

drug therapy

metabolism

Oxygen Consumption

drug effects

Rats

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)