Sulfatide increases adiponectin and decreases TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in human adipose tissue in vitro

Type 2 diabetes is associated with decreased levels of the glycosphingolipid sulfatide, as well as a state of low-grade inflammation. Sulfatide is reported to have anti-inflammatory properties in other cell-types. In the present study, the effects of sulfatide on adipokine (adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8) production in human adipose tissue (AT) was investigated in vitro. Isolated human adipocytes and AT cultures were incubated with sulfatide isolated from pig brain [sulfatide containing a variety of fatty acids or isoforms of sulfatide with defined, saturated fatty acids with 16 (C16:0) or 24 (C24:0) carbon atoms]. Adiponectin production was increased 50–80%, by all sulfatide preparations. Only the C16:0 isoform decreased TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 production 20–30%. The C16:0 sulfatide has been shown to activate potassium channels in β-cells, and glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+-(KATP) channel blocker, reversed the C16:0-induced decrement in stimulated TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 release in adipocytes. Glibenclamide on its own was without effect on the production of adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8. In conclusion, this study shows that, sulfatide exerts anti-inflammatory effects in human adipocytes and AT in vitro. Accordingly, the reported low serum levels of sulfatide in patients with type 2 diabetes might be of importance in relation to the chronic low-grade inflammatory state found in this disease.