The adipokines and inflammatory status in the era of pediatric obesity

Cytokine. 2020 Feb:126:154925. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2019.154925. Epub 2019 Nov 20.

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is associated with a chronic inflammation due to the deficiency in immune activity related to adipose tissue. A wide-spectrum of pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by adipocytes play an important role in the assessment of obesity-associated inflammatory status. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between IL and 1β, IL-6, TNF α, leptin, and inflammatory status in children with overweight/obesity.

Material and methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 193 children, admitted to a Pediatric Tertiary Hospital in Romania. The children were divided according to BMI into: the study group-91 children with overweight/obesity, and the control group-102 children with normal BMI. Demographic, anthropometric, and laboratory parameters including the serum levels of several adipokines (leptin, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF α) were assessed in both groups.

Results: Our findings revealed significantly higher values of leukocytes, lymphocytes, platelets, AST, and ALT, as well as for the lipid metabolism parameters including cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and CRP, in children with overweight/obesity. We found significantly higher levels of adipokines in the serum of children with overweight and obesity assessed for leptin, IL6, and TNF α (p = 0.0145/p < 0.0001/p = 0.004/), except for IL-1β serum levels.

Conclusions: Childhood overweight and/or obesity is associated with a systemic inflammatory status demonstrated by increased levels of CBC parameters. Pro-inflammatory adipokines are also an essential factor in obesity-related inflammatory status according to our findings that underlined the importance of increased serum levels of IL-6, TNF α, and leptin in pediatric patients with overweight/obesity. Clinically, CBC parameters along with adipokines might represent useful diagnostic tools for low-grade systemic inflammation in children with overweight or obesity.

Keywords: Adipokines; Children; Inflammatory status; Obesity; Overweight.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipokines / blood*
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Adolescent
  • Body Mass Index
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cytokines / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interleukin-1beta / blood
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Leptin / blood
  • Lipid Metabolism / physiology*
  • Male
  • Pediatric Obesity / blood*
  • Pediatric Obesity / pathology*
  • Romania
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood

Substances

  • Adipokines
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Cytokines
  • IL1B protein, human
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Leptin
  • TNF protein, human
  • Triglycerides
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • C-Reactive Protein