Signaling by IL-6 promotes alternative activation of macrophages to limit 
endotoxemia and obesity-associated resistance to insulin

Mauer, J.; Chaurasia, B.; Goldau, J.; Vogt, M. C.; Ruud, J.; Nguyen, K. D.; Theurich, S.; Hausen, A. C.; Schmitz, J.; Bronneke, H. S.; Estevez, E.; Allen, T. L.; Mesaros, A.; Partridge, L.; Febbraio, M. A.; Chawla, A.; Wunderlich, F. T.; Bruning, J. C.

doi:10.1038/ni.2865

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Signaling by IL-6 promotes alternative activation of macrophages to limit endotoxemia and obesity-associated resistance to insulin

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Mesaros, A.
Phenotyping, Core Facilities, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Max Planck Society;

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Partridge, L.
Department Partridge - Biological Mechanisms of Ageing, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Max Planck Society;

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24681566
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Citation

Mauer, J., Chaurasia, B., Goldau, J., Vogt, M. C., Ruud, J., Nguyen, K. D., et al. (2014). Signaling by IL-6 promotes alternative activation of macrophages to limit endotoxemia and obesity-associated resistance to insulin. Nat Immunol, 15(5), 423-30. doi:10.1038/ni.2865.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000B-8105-D

Abstract

Obesity and resistance to insulin are closely associated with the development of low-grade inflammation. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is linked to obesity-associated inflammation; however, its role in this context remains controversial. Here we found that mice with an inactivated gene encoding the IL-6Ralpha chain of the receptor for IL-6 in myeloid cells (Il6ra(Deltamyel) mice) developed exaggerated deterioration of glucose homeostasis during diet-induced obesity, due to enhanced resistance to insulin. Tissues targeted by insulin showed increased inflammation and a shift in macrophage polarization. IL-6 induced expression of the receptor for IL-4 and augmented the response to IL-4 in macrophages in a cell-autonomous manner. Il6ra(Deltamyel) mice were resistant to IL-4-mediated alternative polarization of macrophages and exhibited enhanced susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia. Our results identify signaling via IL-6 as an important determinant of the alternative activation of macrophages and assign an unexpected homeostatic role to IL-6 in limiting inflammation.