Relationship between Proinflammatory Cytokines/Chemokines and Adipokines in Serum of Young Adults with Obesity.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

The adipose tissue has been recognized as an important endocrine organ, which is metabolically active and expresses and secretes various inflammatory cytokines. Inflammation is involved in obesity-related complications. As such, the present study investigated the correlation between biochemical parameters, serum proinflammatory cytokines and adipokines in individuals with obesity.

METHODS

Based on the body mass index (BMI), 30 subjects were divided into 3 groups: eutrophic (GC, n = 10), overweight (GOW, n = 10) and obese (GOB, n = 10). Serum glucose, cholesterol (total-C, HDLC and LDL-C), triglycerides, total proteins, uric acid and insulin were determined, as well as cytokines IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, leptin and adiponectin.

RESULTS

GOB showed the highest glucose, total and LDL-C, triglycerides, uric acid, insulin, leptin, IL- 8, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and lowest adiponectin levels. In general, adiponectin exhibited an inverse correlation with BMI, abdominal circumference, LDL-C, IL-6, TNF-α, leptin and leptin-adiponectin ratio (LAR) and a positive correlation with HDL-C. Leptin was positively correlated with BMI, abdominal circumference, insulin, IL-6, TNF-α and LAR and negatively correlated with HDL-C and adiponectin. The LAR was positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, insulin, TNF-α and negatively associated with HDL-C.

CONCLUSION

The results confirm that obesity changes the lipid and glycemic profiles of individuals, increases the proinflammatory adipokine levels and reduces those of anti-inflammatory adipokines, promoting a state of chronic inflammation.