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. 2018 Sep-Oct;34(5):1125–1131. doi: 10.12669/pjms.345.15516

Table-II.

Literature Review of the Relationship Between Interleukin-15, Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle.

Authors (year published) Methodology Outcome measures (results) Comments
Nielsen et al. (2008)9 199 subjects divided into 4 groups based on obesity and T2DM Plasma IL-15 was negatively associated with total fat mass (p < .05), trunk fat mass (p < .01), & % fat mass (p < .05) in multiple regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, fitness level, and smoking. IL-15 may contribute to regulation of trunk fat mass.
Barra et al. (2010)17 Animal study to observe overexpression of IL-15 (IL-15tg), lack of IL-15 (IL-15-/-) upon adipose tissue Overexpression of IL-15 (IL-15tg) was linked to lean body weight; lack of IL-15 (IL-15-/-) resulted in significant increase in weight gain without altering appetite. IL-15 is involved in regulation of adipose tissue mass
Tamura et al. (2011)20 13 PA subjects performed 30 min endurance exercise at 70% maximum HR. Serum IL-15 pre- & post-exercise Serum IL-15 increased significantly at 10 min & returned to resting level in 3 hr. Serum CK, biomarker for muscle damage, increased maximally 3 h post-exercise. In response to endurance exercise, IL-15 may be released immediately and not related to muscle damage
Rinnov et al. (2014)5 12 week endurance training; 3 hr ergometer cycling. Plasma IL-15 & muscle biopsies before & after intervention Endurance training induced 40% rise in basal skeletal muscle IL-15 protein content (p < .01). Acute exercise for 3-hr did not change muscle IL-15 or plasma IL-15 levels significantly. IL-15 may take part in adaptation of skeletal muscle in response to endurance training.
Perez-Lopez et al. (2018a)19 14 subjects performed resistance exercise. Plasma IL-15 & muscle biopsies before & after exercise. Serum IL-15 increased 5.3 fold immediately post-exercise (p < .001). Skeletal muscle IL-15Rα mRNA increased 2 fold 4 hours after exercise (p < .001). In response to resistance exercise IL-15/IL-15Rα signaling pathway is activated in skeletal muscle
Perez-Lopez et al. (2018b)21 276 subjects divided into 5 groups based on PA, body mass and T2DM Serum IL-15 & IL-15Rα was decreased in PA subjects compared to sedentary (p < .05) and increased in obese with T2DM compared to obese without T2DM (p < .05). Circulating IL-15 and IL-15Rα are reduced in lean and obese PA subjects. IL-15Rα may play role in glucose metabolism
This Study (2018) 133 subjects divided into 2 groups based on BMI. Physical activity & fitness levels assessed Serum IL-15 was higher in lean subjects compared to obese (p < .01). Physically active had higher IL-15 compared to sedentary (p < .01). Post-exercise level of IL-15 was 12.7% higher in lean. IL-15 correlates negatively with adiposity indices, especially visceral fat. Levels of IL-15 rise early after the start of exercise

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; PA, physical activity; IL-15, Interleukin-15;

T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; HR, heart rate; CK, creatine kinase