Histochemistry and Cell Biology

, Volume 128, Issue 4, pp 371–377 | Cite as

Impact of interleukin-6 on the glucose metabolic capacity in rat liver

Original Paper
First Online:
Accepted:

Abstract

The actute phase reaction mediated by the proinflammatory cytokine IL6 initiates a number of metabolic changes in the liver, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of the septic shock during prolonged exposition. Here, the impact of IL6 on the hepatic glucose providing capacity was studied by monitoring glycogen degradation and the expression of the gluconeogenic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1) in rat livers during the daily feeding rhythm. Eight hours after i.p. injection of IL6, mRNA levels of α2-macroglobulin, a prominent acute phase reactant in rat liver, were elevated as shown by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization (ISH). PCK1 mRNA levels were decreased by IL6 to 50% of levels in untreated animals due to the reduction of PCK1 mRNA in the periportal zone of the liver as shown by ISH. PCK1 enzyme activity was not affected by IL6. Glycogen degradation was accelerated by IL6, which led to nearly complete depletion of glycogen pools in periportal areas 8 h after IL6 injection. This was very likely due to inhibition of glycogen pool replenishment. Thus, the depletion of glycogen stores in the liver might contribute to the impairment of hepatic glucose production during prolonged acute phase challenge.

Keywords

Rat liver IL6 Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase Acute phase reaction Glucose metabolism 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg, through the Sonderforschungsbereich 402 “Molekulare und zelluläre Hepatogastroenterologie”, Teilprojekt A4, and the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, Frankfurt.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.MünchenGermany
  2. 2.First Department of MedicineMartin-Luther University of Halle-WittenbergHalle/SaaleGermany

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