Enhanced interleukin‐6 in human adipose tissue vein after sprint exercise: Results from a pilot study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundLow‐volume sprint exercise is likely to reduce body fat. Interleukin (IL‐6) may mediate this by increasing adipose tissue (AT) lipolysis. Therefore, the exchange of AT IL‐6 and glycerol, a marker of lipolysis, was examined in 10 healthy subjects performing three 30‐s all‐out sprints.MethodsBlood samples were obtained from brachial artery (a) and a superficial subcutaneous vein (v) on the anterior abdominal wall up to 9 min after the last sprint and analysed for IL‐6 and glycerol.ResultsArterial IL‐6 increased 2‐fold from rest to last sprint. AT venous IL‐6 increased 15‐fold from 0.4 ± 0.4 at rest to 7.0 ± 4 pg × mL−1 (p < 0.0001) and AT v–a difference increased 45‐fold from 0.12 ± 0.3 to 6.0 ± 5 pg x mL−1 (p < 0.0001) 9 min after last sprint. Arterial glycerol increased 2.5‐fold from rest to 9 min postsprint 1 (p < 0.0001) and was maintained during the exercise period. AT venous and v–a difference of glycerol increased 2‐fold from rest to 9 min postsprint 1 (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.01, respectively), decreased until 18 min postsprint 2 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001), and then increased again until 9 min after last sprint (both p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe concurrent increase in venous IL‐6 and glycerol in AT after last sprint is consistent with an IL‐6 induced lipolysis in AT. Glycerol data also indicated an initial increase in lipolysis after sprint 1 that was unrelated to IL‐6. Increased IL‐6 in adipose tissue may, therefore, complement other sprint exercise‐induced lipolytic agents.