Chronic low-grade inflammation and increased serum levels of the cytokine IL-6 accompany obesity. For brain-produced IL-6, the mechanisms by which it controls energy balance and its role in obesity... Show moreChronic low-grade inflammation and increased serum levels of the cytokine IL-6 accompany obesity. For brain-produced IL-6, the mechanisms by which it controls energy balance and its role in obesity remain unclear. Here, we show that brain-produced IL-6 is decreased in obese mice and rats in a neuro-anatomically and sex-specific manner. Reduced IL-6 mRNA localized to lateral parabrachial nucleus (IPBN) astrocytes, microglia, and neurons, including paraventricular hypothalamus-innervating IPBN neurons. IL-6 microinjection into IPBN reduced food intake and increased brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis in male lean and obese rats by increasing thyroid and sympathetic outflow to BAT. Parabrachial IL-6 interacted with leptin to reduce feeding. siRNA-mediated reduction of IPBN IL-6 leads to increased weight gain and adiposity, reduced BAT thermogenesis, and increased food intake. Ambient cold exposure partly normalizes the obesity-induced suppression of IPBN IL-6. These results indicate that IPBN-produced IL-6 regulates feeding and metabolism and pinpoints (patho)physiological contexts interacting with IPBN IL-6. Show less
