The Role of IL-13 and IL-4 in Adipose Tissue Fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: White adipose tissue (WAT) fibrosis, characterized by an excess of extracellular (ECM) matrix components, is strongly associated with WAT inflammation and dysfunction due to obesity. Interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-4 were recently identified as critical mediators in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. However, their role in WAT fibrosis is still ill-defined. We therefore established an ex vivo WAT organotypic culture system and demonstrated an upregulation of fibrosis-related genes and an increase of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and fibronectin abundance upon dose-dependent stimulation with IL-13/IL-4. These fibrotic effects were lost in WAT lacking il4ra, which encodes for the underlying receptor controlling this process. Adipose tissue macrophages were found to play a key role in me

SUBMITTER: Arndt L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10051142 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature