Exercise-induced Crosstalk between Immune Cells and Adipocytes in Humans: Role of Oncostatin-M

The discovery of novel exercise-regulated circulatory factors has fueled interest in the role of organ-crosstalk, especially between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in mediating beneficial effects of exercise. We studied the adipose tissue transcriptome in men and women with normal glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes following an acute exercise bout, revealing substantial exercise and time-dependent changes, and a sustained increase in inflammatory genes unique to Type 2 diabetes. We identify Oncostatin-M as one of the most upregulated adipose tissue secreted factors post exercise. In cultured human adipocytes, oncostatin-M enhanced MAPK signalling and regulates lipolysis. Oncostatin-M expression predominantly arises from adipose tissue immune cell fractions, while the corresponding receptors are expressed in adipocytes. Oncostatin-M expression is induced in cultured human Thp1 macrophages in response to exercise-like stimuli. Our results suggest immune cells, via secreted factors such as oncostatin-M, are important in crosstalk between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue during exercise, to regulate adipocyte metabolism and adaptation. Adipose tissue RNAseq from human participants with or without type 2 diabetes, before, immediately after, and 3 hours after exercise.