Adipocyte, Insulin-resistance and Immunity : Evaluation of Interleukin-7 in Lipodystrophy, Diabetes and Obesity (IL-7norm)

Adipocyte, Insulin-resistance and Immunity : Evaluation of Interleukin-7 in Lipodystrophies According to Fat Mass and Glucose Metabolism

White adipose tissue-related diseases spread from excess (obesity) to lack (lipoatrophies) through aberrant distribution (lipodystrophies), these 3 different disorders being paradoxically able to induce a metabolic insulin resistance syndrome. The respective part of quantitative and qualitative anomalies of adipose tissue, gluco- and lipo-toxicity, liver and muscle insulin resistance, low-grade fat inflammation and immune alterations are not perfectly understood in the metabolic syndrome yet. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess different cytokines, especially interleukin 7, and metabolic parameters as well as fat mass distribution with DEXA and RMN, in different models of fat distribution, including normal-weight, obese and lipodystrophic patients. A plasma serum, gene and adipose tissue bank will be constituted at the same time to improve our knowledge in disorders linking fat mass, insulin resistance and immunity, especially in lipodystrophies, a rare monogenic model of insulin resistance.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity; Type 2 Diabetes; Lipodystrophy

Detailed Description

Rational: In reason of its ability to store fatty acids and to secrete numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines, the adipocyte appears as a key cell in the regulation of energy metabolism and immune response. Moreover, it has been recently shown that adipocytes play a role in the recruitment of cells involved in innate and adaptive immunity in adipose tissue.

White adipose tissue-related diseases are numerous, spreading from excess (obesity) to a complete (lipoatrophies) or partial lack (lipodystrophies), these 3 different disorders being paradoxically able to induce a metabolic insulin resistance syndrome.

Among the involved cytokines, interleukin-7 (IL-7), mostly known for its immune functions, also participates to the quantitative and qualitative balance of fat mass. Thus, IL-7 over-expression in an animal model induces a lipodystrophic syndrome with insulin resistance whereas in humans, a preliminary study shows that LMNA-linked lipodystrophies are associated with an increase of blood IL-7 levels. IL-7 also participates to reactivation of autoimmunity in patients suffering from auto-immune type 1 after islet transplantation.

Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess different cytokines, especially interleukin 7, and metabolic parameters levels as well as fat mass distribution, in different models of fat distribution, including normal-weighed, obese and lipodystrophic patients. A plasma serum, gene and tissue bank will be constituted in order to improve our knowledge in disorders linking fat mass, insulin resistance and immunity, especially in lipodystrophies, a rare monogenic model of insulin resistance.

Patients: The included patients correspond to subjects of either normal body weight, or obese, or suffering from lipodystrophic syndrome, whatever their type 2 diabetes status.

Methods: Blood IL-7 levels, other immune and/or pro-inflammatory cytokines, lymphocytes immuno-phenotype as well as metabolic parameters will be characterized. Fat mass will be assessed with non-invasive methods (DEXA and RMN). A plasma, serum and gene bank will be constituted. As well as an adipose tissue bank in patients who will have a surgery (especially plastic surgery in lipodystrophic patients), in order to cryo-preserve it and to define the inflammatory status of this tissue thanks to histological and molecular analysis.

Main judgment criteria: The main judgment criteria will be IL-7 blood levels in the different groups according to fat mass and metabolic parameters. The hypothesis is that in humans the quantitative and /or qualitative disturbances of adipose tissue are associated with an increase of IL-7 levels and the development of insulin-resistance.

Awaited results and possible implications: this study will allow to better delineate the immune and inflammatory component associated with alterations of fat mass distribution and glucose metabolism. Our approach combining clinical investigation and ex vivo and laboratory analysis is original and should allow to better understand the cellular mechanisms responsible for the inflammatory process originated in white adipose tissue and accompanying the disorders of this tissue- more especially lipodystrophic syndromes - opening new therapeutic perspectives in common human diseases (obesity, diabetes) on the one hand, and a rare disease (lipodystrophy) on the other hand.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 126

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Amiens, France, 80054
    • Amiens University Hospital
  • Caen, France, 14032
    • CAEN University Hospital
  • Lille, France, 59037
    • Lille University Hospital
  • Reims, France, 51092
    • Reims University Hospital
  • Rouen, France, 76031
    • Rouen University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with lipodystrophy : Endocrinology Departments of Lille , Amiens, Caen, Rouen and Reims University hospitals.

Obese (diabetics and non diabetics) and normal weight patients : Endocrinology - Metabolism, Endocrine Surgery and Nutrition Departments, Lille University Hospital

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and Female
• More than 18 years old
• with lipodystrophic syndrome (familial, partial, genetically determined), diabetics or not, obese or not
• Patients with lipodystrophy non related to a lamine A/C gene mutation, diabetics or not, obese or not
• Obese without diabetes (BMI> 30)
• Obese (BMI>30) and diabetes according to ADA criteria
• Normal weight patients (18< BMI< 25)
• Agreement for the establishment of a serum bank and a plasma bank

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to receive enlightened information
• Refusal to sign the consent
• Corticosteroids (including inhaled), other immunosuppressing treatments (systemic disease for example) or immunomodulators (eg interferon);
• Creatinin > 15 mg / L
• Sepsis
• Progressing cancers or autoimmune diseases;
• Treatment, disease or other condition that may affect the rate of IL-7 (as some contraceptives with estrogens)
• Bleeding disorders (due to disease or treatment)
• Active alcohol Intoxication
• Psychiatric pathology (after psychiatric consultation)
• Active infection including hepatitis C or HIV;
• Age under 18 years
• Participation in another study excluded the possibility of participating in another protocol
• BMI > 60
• Secondary diabetes
• No social security
• Pregnant or lactating women, patients under guardianship, persons deprived of liberty

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
normal; Patients with no overweight and no type 2 diabetes
lipodystrophy; patients with a lipodystrophy, most are diabetics
obese non diabetics; Patients with obesity (BMI <30kg/m2), without diabetes
obese diabetics; Patients with obesity (BMI <30 kg/m2), with diabetes

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Measure of blood Interleukin 7	1 day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
measure of blood Interleukins 2	1 day
measure of blood interleukin 9	1 day
measure of blood Interleukin 15	1 day
measure of blood TNF	1 day
measure of blood IL-1	1 day
measure of blood IL-6	1 day
measure of blood IL-8	1 day
measure of blood IL-10	1 day
measure of blood IL-18	1 day
measure of blood leptin	1 day
measure of blood adiponectin	1 day
Blood count of monocytes/macrophages	1 day
Blood count of dendritic cells	1 day
Count of blood lymphocytes T	1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Lille
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: marie christine VANTYGHEM, pHd, University Hospital, Lille

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lemaitre M, Chevalier B, Jannin A, Le Mapihan K, Boury S, Lion G, Labalette M, Vantyghem MC. Metabolic and immunological phenotype of rare lipomatoses: Dercum's disease and Roch-Leri mesosomatic lipomatosis. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2021 Jun 29;16(1):290. doi: 10.1186/s13023-021-01920-3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 9, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2013
• First Posted (Estimated): February 5, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: adipose tissue; Interleukin 7
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Nutrition Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Diabetes Mellitus; Skin Diseases; Overweight; Lipid Metabolism Disorders; Skin Diseases, Metabolic; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Lipodystrophy
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2009_09/0941; 2009-A01169-48 (Other Identifier: ID-RCB number, ANSM); B91413-80 (Other Identifier: AFSSAPS); PHRC 2009/API (Other Identifier: DHOS)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO