Hyperinsulinemia, frequently present in type 2 diabetes and obesity, might be one of the drivers of the enhanced production of adipocytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the interstitial levels of cytokines in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) in response to hyperinsulinemia and the effect of weightreducing hypocaloric diet on this regulation in obese subjects. Thirteen obese premenopausal women participated in the study. Concentrations of seven cytokines were measured in plasma and in AT interstitial fluid collected by microdialysis during a euglycemichyperinsulinemic clamp and during control infusion of physiological saline. A subgroup of six women underwent a 4-wk very-low-calorie diet (VLCD). Microdialysis during the clamp was performed before and at the end of VLCD. Hyperinsulinemia induced an increase of monocyte chemoatractant protein (MCP-1) and IL-6 SCAT interstitial and plasma levels and elevated IL-8 levels in SCAT. The relative changes of IL-6 levels in the dialysate correlated with changes of IL-8 and MCP-1. The interstitial and plasma levels of IL-1, IL-10, TNF␣, and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) remained unchanged in response to hyperinsulinemia. VLCD resulted in enhancement of the hyperinsulinemia-induced augmentation of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 interstitial levels. In conclusion, hyperinsulinemia upregulates the interstitial levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in SCAT in obese women, whereas it does not affect IL-1, IL-10, TNF␣, and PAI-1 levels. Hypocaloric diet associated with weight reduction enhances the hyperinsulinemia-induced upregulation of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in SCAT. microdialysis; adipose tissue; adipokines ADIPOSE TISSUE (AT) is an active endocrine organ that releases a large number of cytokines and bioactive mediators, called adipokines. In obese and type 2 diabetic subjects, production of many AT-derived substances is increased, associating obesity with a low-grade inflammation state (2-4, 11). Cytokines and chemokines secreted from AT have also been suggested to be among factors that are responsible for the development of insulin resistance (IR) (14,36). Relationships between cytokines and insulin signaling pathways have been observed in several studies (23,26,28,30). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) impairs insulin signaling in skeletal muscle cells at doses similar to its physiological plasma concentrations (ϳ200 pg/ml)(26). Tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF␣) interferes directly with the insulin signaling cascade in human adipocytes, decreasing insulin-induced glucose uptake through downregulation of PI 3-kinase (19). In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and TNF␣ deteriorate insulin signaling pathways via downregulation of IRS-1 and GLUT4 expression (23,28,30).The primary cause of increased levels of circulating adipokines in obesity is unknown. In obese prediabetic patients, before hyperglycemia is developed, chronic hyperinsulinemia is observed, often associated with increased IL-8, TNF␣, and IL-6 circulating levels (2, 3, 11). Theref...