Table 1.
Cytokine secretion from adipose tissue and the role of these cytokines in the development of insulin resistance.39
| Cytokine | Function | Role in insulin resistance |
|---|---|---|
| TNF-α | Inflammatory cytokine | Plays role in insulin resistance by stimulating intracellular signaling through NF-κB activation; knockout mice have shown improved insulin sensitivity and insulin signaling |
| IL-6 | Inflammatory cytokine | Implicated as pathogenic mediator of insulin resistance; human polymorphism in IL6 gene, with resulting decrease in circulating IL-6 levels, is associated with increased insulin sensitivity |
| resistin | Inflammatory cytokine | Plays role in insulin resistance by stimulating intracellular signaling through NF-κB activation; knockout mice have shown improved glucose tolerance on high-fat diet |
| MCP-1 | Chemoattractive protein that recruits immune cells to sites of inflammation |
Expression in adipocytes have resulted in hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in liver, muscle and fat |
| PAI-1 | Inhibitor of plasminogen activators, which converts plasminogen into plasmin during fibrinolysis |
Knockout mice have shown improved insulin sensitivity |