ISSN 1662-4009 (online)

ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology (2019) 16 11.9 | DOI: 10.1530/ey.16.11.9

The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism and the Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, helga.ellingsgaard@regionh.dk


To read the full abstract: Cell Metab 2019; 29(4): 844–55

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial showed that IL-6 is necessary for exercise-mediated loss of visceral adipose tissue mass. 53 participants (men and women) received either tocilizumab, an IL-6 signaling blocker (intervention group) or placebo (control group), every four weeks, in a 12-week intervention period combined with a bicycle routine or no exercise. In participants receiving placebo, exercise significantly reduced visceral adipose tissue mass. By contrast, in participants receiving tocilizumab and performing exercise, visceral adipose tissue mass was increased compared to the placebo group. Therefore, loss of visceral adipose tissue mass following exercise was dependent on IL-6. This IL-6 effect was specifically seen in adipose tissue. Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness following exercise were shown to be independent of IL-6. In addition, IL-6 blockade increased cholesterol levels and this effect was not reversed by exercise.

The study shows convincingly IL-6 signalling as a mechanism by which exercise reduces visceral adipose tissue mass. Given that abdominal obesity is metabolically harmful, the findings reveal a potentially important side effect of IL-6 receptor antibodies and consolidates a physiological role of IL-6 as a beneficial lipolytic factor in humans, capable to reduce visceral fat mass. The relative small study cohort and a missing consideration of a sex-dependent fat distribution are limitations of this study.

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