Features of the immune system cells in abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome and their associations with factors of cardiometabolic risk, visceral adipose tissue dysfunction and adipokines

Abstract

The aim of this work was to establish the features of the immune system cells in abdominal obesity (AO) and metabolic syndrome (MS) and to determine the associations between the studied parameters and MS components, insulin resistance, and the level of adipokines. 244 patients of both sexes aged 18–45 years were included. The patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1 (comparison group) — healthy individuals without AO, excess body weight and additional MS components (n=71); group 2 (AO) — patients with isolated AO (n=32); group 3 (AO+1) — patients with AO and 1 component of MS (n=63); group 4 (MS) — patients with MS (n=78). The laboratory investigation included determination of parameters of carbohydrate, lipid metabolism, adipokines. The calculation of insulin resistance indices and the index of dysfunction of visceral adipose tissue were performed. The parameters of cell immunity were studied (the number of leukocytes and leukocyte formula; the subpopulations of lymphocytes — CD3+45+, CD3+4+, CD3+8+, CD3+56+, CD3-56+, CD3-19+, CD3+25+ and CD3+HLADR+ ). The results of this work demonstrate inflammatory changes in the leukocyte formula, as well as the appearance of activated lymphocytes in peripheral blood in patients of groups 2–4. Correlation analysis results suggest that the mechanism of formation of changes in cell adaptive immunity in AO and MS is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Conclusions. 1. Changes in the leukocytes composition in peripheral blood in patients with AO and MS are an increase in the number of neutrophils, monocytes and a decrease in the number of lymphocytes. In the groups AO+1 and MS these changes are accompanied by an increase in the number of leukocytes. 2. The subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the groups AO and AO+1 are characterized by an increase in the level of CD3+HLADR+. In patients with MS — in combination with an increase in the level of CD3+25+ and B-lymphocytes. 3. The appearance of activated lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in the groups AO and MS is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors (excess adipose tissue, dyslipidemia, hyperleptinemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance).