Endocrine interaction between skeletal muscles and adipose tissue in the regulation of tissue insulin sensitivity

Obesity is a worldwide problem which carries significant health risks and reduces a quality of life. Excessive accumulation of adipose tissue leads to increased secretion of hormones, inflammatory mediators and immune system effectors that are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and insulin resistance. Nowadays, it is believed that regular moderate physical activity may be associated with beneficial health effects including a reduction of adipose tissue mass, improvement of adipokines secretion profiles, and, as a consequence, reduced insulin resistance. It should be emphasized that the beneficial health effect of exercise can be associated with endocrine activity of muscles. Muscles release many humoral factors, called myokines, that affect other organs including adipose tissue, liver, brain and cardiovascular system. It is suggested that myokines can neutralize the negative effects of many adipokines. In this review we would like to summarize the current knowledge of endocrine interaction between adipose tissue and skeletal muscles in the regulation of tissue insulin sensitivity.