Abstract
Obesity is closely associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases. Our previous reports uncover the significant associations between interleukin-4 (IL-4)/IL-4 receptor genotypes and T2DM, as well as IL-4 genotypes and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Theses observations suggest that IL-4 harbors the capacity to regulate lipid metabolism. The present study is aimed at further elucidating regulatory roles of IL-4 to lipid metabolism by identifying putative proteins in 3T3-L1 adipocytes which are differentially expressed under IL-4 treatment. Proteins in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes with altered expression levels under IL-4 treatment were identified by proteomic strategy. Our results revealed that IL-4 up-regulated levels of ATP synthase δ chain, Cytochrome c reductase, Pyrophsphatase and Vimentin, whereas, Alpha-enolase, Gelsolin, Vinculin and Valosin were down-regulated. These observations suggest that IL-4 promotes energy metabolism and inhibit lipid deposits in adipocytes by up-regulating proteins accelerating ATP synthesis. Our results suggest that IL-4 facilitates adipocytes metabolism to catabolism with a favorable condition for lipolysis. These catabolized lipids in adipocytes triggered by IL-4 might either be released into periphery or metabolized intracellularlly, and modulate systemic energy metabolism.
Highlights
Obesity is characterized by excess accumulation of lipids in intra-abdominal adipose tissue
Obesity is the major risk factor leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with 44 % of the diabetic burden are attributable to overweight and obesity
We previously reported significant associations between interleukin-4 (IL-4)/IL-4 receptor genotypes and T2DM, as well as IL-4 genotypes and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), which suggest the involvement of IL-4 in lipid metabolism
Summary
Obesity is characterized by excess accumulation of lipids in intra-abdominal adipose tissue. The enlargement of adipose tissue is a combination of increased cell number (hyperplasia), size (hypertrophy) and formation (adipogenesis) of adipocytes (Cornelius et al 1994; Sorisky 1999). Obesity has become an epidemic problem globally, affecting persons of all ages in both developed and developing countries. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 2.1 billion adults were overweight (body Mass Index [BMI] > 25), and at least 400 million of them were obese (BMI > 30) (World Health Organization 2014). Obesity is the major risk factor leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with 44 % of the diabetic burden are attributable to overweight and obesity. Overweight and obesity are leading risks for global deaths, causing death
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