Interleukin-1ß induces the novel adipokine chemerin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Chemerin has recently been characterized as a novel adipokine playing a crucial role in adipocyte differentiation and insulin signaling. In the current study, the impact of insulin resistance-inducing and proinflammatory interleukin (IL)-1ß on chemerin protein secretion and mRNA expression was determined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Interestingly, IL-1ß significantly induced chemerin protein secretion almost 1.3-fold from 5.89ng/ml (basal) to 7.52ng/ml (p<0.05). Furthermore, chemerin mRNA synthesis was significantly stimulated by IL-1ß in a dose-dependent fashion with 1.5-fold induction seen at IL-1ß concentrations as low as 0.07ng/ml and maximal 2.6-fold upregulation found at 2ng/ml effector. Furthermore, induction of chemerin mRNA by IL-1ß was time-dependent with maximal 2.2-fold upregulation detectable after 8h of IL-1ß treatment. Signaling studies suggested that janus kinase 2, nuclear factor κ B, p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase are involved in IL-1ß-induced chemerin mRNA expression. Taken together, we show that chemerin is upregulated in fat cells by IL-1ß and might modulate the effects of IL-1ß on adipocyte metabolism and insulin sensitivity.