Serum Calprotectin and Chemerin Concentrations as Markers of Low-Grade Inflammation in Prepubertal Children with Obesity.

Grażyna Rowicka,Magdalena Chełchowska,Hanna Dyląg,Halina Weker,Jadwiga Ambroszkiewicz

doi:10.3390/ijerph17207575

Grażyna Rowicka, Magdalena Chełchowska + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207575

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Abstract

In adults, obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which may cause long-term adverse health consequences. We evaluated whether obesity in prepubertal children also generates this kind of inflammation and whether calprotectin and chemerin may be useful markers for early detection of such inflammation in this group of children. The study population included 83 children aged 2 to 10 years; 62 with obesity and without components of metabolic syndrome and 21 healthy controls with normal body weight. White blood cell (WBC) count, concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), calprotectin, and chemerin were determined in peripheral blood. Our study showed that in the group with obesity, serum concentrations of calprotectin and chemerin, as well as CRP were significantly higher as compared with the controls. We found a significant positive correlation between serum chemerin concentrations and BMI z-score (r = 0.33, p < 0.01) in children with obesity. Chemerin concentration was also positively correlated with CRP level (r = 0.36, p < 0.01) in the whole group of children. These findings suggest that obesity may generate chronic low-grade inflammation as early as in the prepubertal period which can be indicated by significantly higher serum concentrations of calprotectin and chemerin. Calprotectin and especially chemerin seem to be promising indicators of this type of inflammation in children with obesity, but the correlation between these markers requires further research.

Highlights

In recent decades, the worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity has exhibited a steady growth among adults and in children [1,2]
The history of obesity in children with excess body weight, determined based on anthropometric measurements performed during regular checkups in infancy, at twelve months, and second, forth, sixth, and tenth year of age, was 3.5 years
We found a significant positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) z-score and serum chemerin concentrations (r = 0.33, p < 0.01) in children with obesity, while the correlation between BMI z-score and serum calprotectin was on the border of statistical significance (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity has exhibited a steady growth among adults and in children [1,2]. This is worrying because it has been demonstrated that excess body weight in childhood is associated with a greater risk of developing overweight as well as obesity and its complications in adulthood [3,4]. The released proinflammatory factors are responsible for the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause oxidative stress and free radical damage of important cell structures [7].

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