Effects of Exercise Training and IL-6 Receptor Blockade on Gastric Emptying and GLP-1 Secretion in Obese Humans: Secondary Analyses From a Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is released from skeletal muscle during exercise and systemic IL-6 levels therefore increase acutely in response to a single bout of exercise. We recently showed that an acute increase in IL-6 delayed gastric emptying rate and improved postprandial glycemia. Here we investigate whether repeated increases in IL-6, induced by exercise training, influence gastric emptying rate and moreover if IL-6 is required for exercise-induced adaptations in glycemic control including secretion of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). METHODS: A total of 52 abdominally obese non-diabetic men and women were randomly assigned into four groups performing 12 weeks of endurance exercise or no exercise with or without IL-6 receptor blockade (tocilizumab). The primary endpoint was change in gastric emptying rate in response to the intervention and other endpoints included changes in glycemic control, glucagon, and GLP-1 secretion. RESULTS: There was no change in gastric emptying rate in any of the four groups following the intervention and comparing differences in change between groups also revealed no difference. Postprandial glucose remained unchanged in all groups but the exercise + tocilizumab group, which improved postprandial glucose in response to the intervention. The area under the curve for meal-stimulated glucagon, active and total GLP-1 increased in response to IL-6 receptor blockade, this effect was independent of exercise. CONCLUSION: Exercise training and long-term IL-6 receptor blockade did not change gastric emptying rates in obese humans. IL-6 receptor blockade increased glucagon and GLP-1 secretion and implicate IL-6 in the regulation of the human alpha and L cells.

Effect of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise on Cardiac Adipose Tissues: Secondary Analyses From a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Epicardial and pericardial adipose tissues are emerging as important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and there is a growing interest in discovering strategies to reduce the accumulation of fat in these depots. Objective: To investigate whether a 12-week endurance or resistance training intervention regulates epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue mass. Design, Setting, and Participants: Secondary analysis of a randomized, assessor-blinded clinical trial initiated on August 2016 and completed April 2018. This single-center, community-based study included 50 physically inactive participants with abdominal obesity. Interventions: Participants were randomized to a supervised high-intensity interval endurance training (3 times a week for 45 minutes), resistance training (3 times a week for 45 minutes), or no exercise (control group). Main Outcomes and Measures: Change in epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue mass assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, based on a prespecified secondary analysis plan including 3 of 5 parallel groups. Results: Of 50 participants (mean [SD] age, 41 [14] years, 10 men [26%]; mean [SD] body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared], 32 [5]), 39 [78%] completed the study. Endurance training and resistance training reduced epicardial adipose tissue mass by 32% (95% CI, 10%-53%) and 24% (95% CI, 1%-46%), respectively, compared with the no exercise control group (56% [95% CI, 24%-88%]; P = .001 and 48% [95% CI, 15%-81%]; P < .001, respectively). While there was a nonsignificant reduction in pericardial adipose tissue mass after endurance training (11% [95% CI, -5% to 27%]; P = .17), resistance training significantly reduced pericardial adipose tissue mass by 31% (95% CI, 16%-47%; P < .001) when compared with the no exercise control group. Compared with the no exercise control group, there was an increase in left ventricular mass by endurance (20 g [95% CI, 11%-30%]; P < .001) and resistance training (18 g [95% CI, 8%-28%]; P < .001). Other cardiometabolic outcomes remained unchanged after the 12-week trial period. Conclusions and Relevance: In individuals with abdominal obesity, both endurance and resistance training reduced epicardial adipose tissue mass, while only resistance training reduced pericardial adipose tissue mass. These data highlight the potential preventive importance of different exercise modalities as means to reduce cardiac fat in individuals with abdominal obesity. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02901496.

Exercise-Induced Changes in Visceral Adipose Tissue Mass Are Regulated by IL-6 Signaling: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Visceral adipose tissue is harmful to metabolic health. Exercise training reduces visceral adipose tissue mass, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulates lipolysis and is released from skeletal muscle during exercise. We hypothesized that exercise-induced reductions in visceral adipose tissue mass are mediated by IL-6. In this randomized placebo-controlled trial, we assigned abdominally obese adults to tocilizumab (IL-6 receptor antibody) or placebo during a 12-week intervention with either bicycle exercise or no exercise. While exercise reduced visceral adipose tissue mass, this effect of exercise was abolished in the presence of IL-6 blockade. Changes in body weight and total adipose tissue mass showed similar tendencies, whereas lean body mass did not differ between groups. Also, IL-6 blockade increased cholesterol levels, an effect not reversed by exercise. Thus, IL-6 is required for exercise to reduce visceral adipose tissue mass and emphasizes a potentially important metabolic consequence of IL-6 blockade.