Inflammation plays a role in trans-10, cis-12 ( 10,12)-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-mediated delipidation and insulin resistance in adipocytes. Given the anti-inflammatory role of resveratrol (RSV), we hypothesized that RSV would attenuate inflammation and insulin resistance caused by 10,12 CLA in human adipocytes. RSV blocked 10,12 CLA induction of the inflammatory response by preventing activation of extracellular signal-related kinase and induction of inflammatory gene expression (i.e., IL-6, IL-8, IL-1b) within 12 h. Similarly, RSV suppressed 10,12 CLA-mediated activation of the inflammatory prostaglandin pathway involving phospholipase A(2), cyclooxygenase-2, and PGF(2 alpha). In addition, RSV attenuated 10,12 CLA increase of intracellular calcium and reactive oxygen species associated with cellular stress, and activation of stress-related proteins (i.e., activating transcription factor 3, JNK) within 12 h. 10,12 CLA-mediated insulin resistance and suppression of fatty acid uptake and triglyceride content were attenuated by RSV. Finally, 10,12 CLA-mediated decrease of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) protein levels and activation of a peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE) reporter were prevented by RSV. RSV increased the basal activity of PPRE, suggesting that RSV increases PPARg activity. Collectively, these data demonstrate for the first time that RSV prevents 10,12 CLA-mediated insulin resistance and delipidation in human adipocytes by attenuating inflammation and cellular stress and increasing PPARg activity. - Kennedy, A., A. Overman, K. LaPoint, R. Hopkins, T. West, C-C. Chuang, K. Martinez, D. Bell, and M. McIntosh. Conjugated linoleic acid-mediated inflammation and insulin resistance in human adipocytes are attenuated by resveratrol. J. Lipid Res. 2009. 50: 225 -232.