Science, Vol 259, Issue 5091, 87-91
Copyright © 1993 by American Association for the Advancement of Science
Adipose expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha: direct role in obesity-linked insulin resistance
GS Hotamisligil,
NS Shargill,
and
BM Spiegelman
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been shown to have certain catabolic effects on fat cells and whole animals. An induction of TNF-alpha messenger RNA expression was observed in adipose tissue from four different rodent models of obesity and diabetes. TNF-alpha protein was also elevated locally and systemically. Neutralization of TNF-alpha in obese fa/fa rats caused a significant increase in the peripheral uptake of glucose in response to insulin. These results indicate a role for TNF-alpha in obesity and particularly in the insulin resistance and diabetes that often accompany obesity.
