Peripheral IL-6/STAT3 signaling promotes beiging of white fat

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) can reportedly centrally affect the thermogenesis of brown fat. However, whether the peripheral IL-6 signaling regulates beiging of white fat remains largely unknown. In vitro experiments indicated IL-6-KO-derived white adipocytes exhibited lower thermogenic gene expression compared to the WT, associating with reduced phosphorylation of STAT3 at Tyr705. Mechanistically, exogenous IL-6 application increased the p-STAT3^Tyr705 level, thus the phosphorylated STAT3 bound to the promoter regions, and enhanced the transcription of Pparγ and Ucp1. The protein interaction of PGC-1α with PPARγ was increased by IL-6, which also contributed to stimulate Ucp1 expression. In vivo experiments demonstrated that IL-6 KO decreased the beiging potential of white fat with suppressed STAT3 Tyr705 phosphorylation. Accordingly, IL-6-KO mature mice were associated with disrupted glucose homeostasis and accelerated hepatic steatosis. Collectively, we identified a novel function of peripheral IL-6/STAT3 signaling which is essential for beiging of white fat, such ensuring fat and glucose homeostasis.

Keywords: Beiging of white fat; Interleukin-6 (IL-6); PPARγ; UCP1; p-STAT3(Tyr705).