Asprosin Enhances Cytokine Production by a Co-Culture of Fully Differentiated Mature Adipocytes and Macrophages Leading to the Exacerbation of the Condition Typical of Obesity-Related Inflammation

Abstract

Asprosin, a fasting-induced, glucogenic, and orexigenic adipokine, has gained popularity in recent years as a potential target in the fight against obesity and its complications. However, the contribution of asprosin to the development of moderate obesity-related inflammation remains still unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of asprosin on the inflammatory activation of adipocyte–macrophage co-cultures at various stages of differentiation. The study was performed on co-cultures of the murine 3T3L1 adipocyte and the RAW264.7 macrophage cell lines treated with asprosin before, during, and after 3T3L1 cell differentiation, with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Cell viability, overall cell activity, and the expression and release of key inflammatory cytokines were analyzed. In the concentration range of 50–100 nM, asprosin increased the pro-inflammatory activity in the mature co-culture and enhanced the expression and release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Macrophage migration was also increased, which could be related to the upregulated expression and release of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) by the adipocytes. In summary, asprosin exerted a pro-inflammatory effect on the mature adipocyte–macrophage co-culture and may contribute to the spread of moderate obesity-associated inflammation. Nevertheless, further research is needed to fully elucidate this process.