Objective To study expression of IL-6 and IL-8 gene mRNA in adipose tissue and to evaluate its correlation with BMI , WHR , lipid metabolism , an index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), an index of beta-cell function (HBCI).Methods Total mRNA was extracted from visceral and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was employed to study its expression in adipose tissue of 16 subjects with obesity, 20 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 22 controls. Meanwhile the anthropometric data such as weight, waist circumference, hip circumference were measured. Fasting plasma levels of insulin (FINS), fast plasma glucose (FPG), lipids were determined. HOMA-IR and HBCI were calculated.Results (1) BMI, WHR, SBP, DBP, FINS, HOMA-IR were significantly higher in obesity group than those in controls. BMI,SBP,DBP,FPG,TG,HOMA-IR were significantly higher in diabetes group than those in controls. HBCI was significantly lower in diabetes than that in obesity and controls (P0.05) . (3) Compared with controls, the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA in VAT and SAT was significantly increased in obesity and T2DM group (P<0.05).