Adipokines such as Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), interleukin (IL)-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha are elevated in patients with obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we investigated whether glucose affected the production of these adipokines in human adipose tissue in vitro. Glucose (up to 35 mM) increased secretion of PAI-1 (P < 0.01) and IL-8 (p < 0.01), but not TNF-alpha, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Half-maximal stimulatory concentration of glucose was about 1 mM. Glucosamine (5 mM) decreased production of PAI-1 (p < 0.05) and IL-8 (p < 0.05), indicating that the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway is not involved in the glucose-induced increment in adipokine secretion. The present data demonstrate that glucose increases PAI-1 and IL-8 secretion. However, glucose concentrations above 5 mM had no additional effects on adipokine secretion, suggesting that mechanisms other than diabetes/insulin resistance-related hyperglycemia may be involved in the observed elevation of these adipokines. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.