Fig. 2

Central IL-2 administration improved insulin sensitivity in HFD-induced obese mice. A. Illustration of central IL-2 administration and the experimental timeline. B and C. Changes in body weight and food intake during intraperitoneal injection of vehicle or IL-2. The arrows indicate the time points of metabolic analysis (n = 4 for vehicle, n = 5 for IL-2 [1 IU] and IL-2 [10 IU]). D and E. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed on the 4th and 8th day after the first vehicle or IL-2 administration (n = 4 for vehicle, n = 5 for IL-2 [1 IU] and IL-2 [10 IU]). F. Western blot data and quantification of pAKT and tAKT after insulin administration in the vehicle, IL-2 [1 IU], and IL-2 [10 IU] groups (n = 4 for vehicle, n = 5 for IL-2 [1 IU] and IL-2 [10 IU]). G and H. Flow cytometry analysis of Th1 cells (CD45 + TCRβ + CD4 + IFNγ+) and Treg cells (CD45 + TCRβ + CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3+) in gWATs of vehicle, IL-2 [1 IU], and IL-2 [10 IU] groups (n = 4 for vehicle and IL-2 [1 IU] and n = 5 for IL-2 [10 IU]). I. Comparison of mRNA expressions of inflammation-related genes, including Il-1β, Il-6, Il-8, Tnfα, Il-4, Il-10, and Tgfβ (n = 4 for vehicle and n = 5 for IL-2 [10 IU]) Results are presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analyses were performed using one-sided two-way ANOVA (B, C, D [left], E [left]), one-sided one-way ANOVA (D [right], E [right], F, G, H), and two-sided Student’s t-test (I). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 between the indicated groups. NS, not significant