Cytokines C-reactive Protein Research Articles

Safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a zoonotic disease that has become a global pandemic. The fast evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and persist problems make COVID-19 highly infectious; publicly accessible literature and other sources of information continue to expand in volume. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy efficacy for COVID-19 is debatable. This systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) aimed to evaluate the usefulness of MSCs in treating COVID-19. Relevant publications were retrieved from databases up to April 30, 2022. In the case of dichotomous data, the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and pooled risk ratio (RR) were estimated with a random effects model (REM) or fixed effects model (FEM). The pooled mean difference (MD) and 95% CIs were calculated with REM or FEM in continuous data. In the outcomes, studies with insufficient or unusable data were reported descriptively. A total of eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 464 people were chosen for this SRMA. Relative to the control group, mortality was significantly lower in the MSCs group (RR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.99, Z = 2.01, p = .04); other secondary outcomes, such as the clinical symptom improvement rate improved in the MSCs group (RR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.99, Z = 2.24, p = .03), clinical symptom improvement time (MD: -4.01, 95% CI: -6.33, -1.68, Z = 3.38, p = .0007), C-reactive protein (CRP) (MD: -39.16, 95% CI: -44.39, -33.94, Z = 14.70, p < .00001) and days to hospital discharge (MD: -3.83, 95% CI: -6.19, -1.48, Z = 3.19, p = .001) reduced significantly in MSCs group. However, the adverse reaction incidence did not change significantly. MSCs are a viable therapy option for COVID-19 because of their safety and potential efficacy. With no significant adverse effects, MSCs can reduce mortality, clinical symptom improvement time, and days to hospital discharge, improve clinical symptoms, and reduce inflammatory cytokines CRP in COVID-19. However, further high-quality clinical studies are required to confirm these results.

Attenuating effect of Chlorella Vulgaris against acrylamide intoxication on thyroid gland

Oral administration of Acrylamide in our food produces adverse health effects through different vital systems. This study examined the effect of simultaneous oral supplementation of unicellular algae Chlorella vulgaris (CV) on thyroid gland disruption induced by intoxication with Acrylamide (ACR). Healthy male rats (n=60) distributed in six groups: -ve control, +ve control (CV 300 mg/kg), low dose Acrylamide (LACR, 5 mg/kg), high dose Acrylamide (HACR, 50 mg/kg), pre-administration of Chlorella Vulgaris with Acrylamide CV+ LACR (5mg/kg), and with Acrylamide CV+HACR (50 mg/kg). All groups received treatments orally for 30 days. ACR treated groups (LACR, HACR) demonstrated a significant elevation in oxidative stress biomarkers Malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), Nitric Oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein (CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β). In relation to antioxidant biomarkers Glutathione (GSH) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), GSH recorded significant reduction while GPx indicated significant elevation as compared to control and +ve control group at (p&lt;0.05). Thyroid gland biomarkers showed reduction in Thyroid-Stimulating hormone (TSH) in ACR groups whereas Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) presented a significant elevation.

Neuropsychological, Medical, and Psychiatric Findings After Recovery From Acute COVID-19: A Cross-sectional Study.

BackgroundPersistent cognitive, medical and psychiatric complaints have been extensively described after recovery from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.ObjectiveTo describe neuropsychological, medical, psychiatric, and functional correlates of cognitive complaints experienced after recovery from acute COVID-19 infection.MethodsSixty participants underwent neuropsychological, psychiatric, medical, functional, and quality-of-life assessments 6–8 months after acute COVID-19. Those seeking care for cognitive complaints in a post-COVID-19 clinical program for post-acute symptoms of COVID-19 (clinical group, N = 32) were compared with those recruited from the community who were not seeking care (nonclinical, N = 28). A subset of participants underwent serological testing for proinflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α to explore correlations with neuropsychological, psychiatric, and medical variables.ResultsFor the entire sample, 16 (27%) had extremely low test scores (less than second percentile on at least 1 neuropsychological test). The clinical group with cognitive complaints scored lower than age-adjusted population norms in tests of attention, processing speed, memory, and executive function and scored significantly more in the extremely low range than the nonclinical group (38% vs. 14%, P < 0.04). The clinical group also reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, fatigue, posttraumatic stress disorder, and functional difficulties and lower quality of life. In logistic regression analysis, scoring in the extremely low range was predicted by acute COVID-19 symptoms, current depression score, number of medical comorbidities, and subjective cognitive complaints in the areas of memory, language, and executive functions. Interleukin-6 correlated with acute COVID symptoms, number of medical comorbidities, fatigue, and inversely with measures of executive function. C-reactive protein correlated with current COVID symptoms and depression score but inversely with quality of life.ConclusionResults suggest the existence of extremely low neuropsychological test performance experienced by some individuals months after acute COVID-19 infection, affecting multiple neurocognitive domains. This extremely low neuropsychological test performance is associated with worse acute COVID-19 symptoms, depression, medical comorbidities, functional complaints, and subjective cognitive complaints. Exploratory correlations with proinflammatory cytokines support further research into inflammatory mechanisms and viable treatments.

Compositional Data Analysis of Periodontal Disease Microbial Communities

Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive polymicrobial disease that induces a strong host immune response. Culture-independent methods, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) of bacteria 16S amplicon and shotgun metagenomic libraries, have greatly expanded our understanding of PD biodiversity, identified novel PD microbial associations, and shown that PD biodiversity increases with pocket depth. NGS studies have also found PD communities to be highly host-specific in terms of both biodiversity and the response of microbial communities to periodontal treatment. As with most microbiome work, the majority of PD microbiome studies use standard data normalization procedures that do not account for the compositional nature of NGS microbiome data. Here, we apply recently developed compositional data analysis (CoDA) approaches and software tools to reanalyze multiomics (16S, metagenomics, and metabolomics) data generated from previously published periodontal disease studies. CoDA methods, such as centered log-ratio (clr) transformation, compensate for the compositional nature of these data, which can not only remove spurious correlations but also allows for the identification of novel associations between microbial features and disease conditions. We validated many of the studies’ original findings, but also identified new features associated with periodontal disease, including the genera Schwartzia and Aerococcus and the cytokine C-reactive protein (CRP). Furthermore, our network analysis revealed a lower connectivity among taxa in deeper periodontal pockets, potentially indicative of a more “random” microbiome. Our findings illustrate the utility of CoDA techniques in multiomics compositional data analysis of the oral microbiome.

Acacetin ameliorates insulin resistance in obesity mice through regulating Treg/Th17 balance via MiR-23b-3p/NEU1 Axis

BackgroundThe role of miR-23b-3p in insulin resistance (IR) remained poorly understood.MethodsAfter acacetin injection, obesity-induced IR model was constructed with or without miR-23b-3p upregulation and Neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) overexpression in mice. Body weight, serum metabolite and fat percent of the mice were measured. Tests on oral glucose and insulin tolerance were performed, and inflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) levels were quantified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The binding sites between miR-23b-3p and NEU1 were predicted by TargetScan, and verified using dual-luciferase reporter assay. Relative expressions were detected with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Proportion of Treg and Th17 cells in total CD4+ T cells was detected with flow cytometry.ResultsMiR-23b-3p offset the effects of acacetin on body weight, fat percent, inflammatory cytokines levels and expressions of markers of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and T helper 17 cells (Th17 cells), NEU1 and miR-23b-3p. NEU1 was a target of miR-23b-3p, and overexpressed NEU1 reversed the effects of upregulated miR-23b-3p on reducing Treg cells but increased body weight, fat percent and inflammatory cytokines levels, percentage of Th17 cells, and upregulated NEU1 expression.ConclusionUpregulation of miR-23b-3p offset the effects of acacetin on obesity-induced IR through regulating Treg/Th17 cell balance via targeting NEU1.The present findings provide a possible prevention strategy for obesity-induced IR.

Fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei Zhang and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis V9 alleviated constipation symptoms through regulation of intestinal microbiota, inflammation, and metabolic pathways

Studies suggest that probiotics and fermented milk can improve defecation in constipated patients. However, the mechanism of fermented milk containing probiotics on constipation remains poorly understood. Volunteers with chronic constipation symptoms were recruited and given 200 g/d of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei Zhang and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis V9 (PFM) for 4 wk. Clinical symptoms, cytokines, metagenomics, and metabolomics were evaluated in constipated participants before and after PFM intervention. After PFM intervention, we observed significant improvement of constipation symptoms. In the serum samples, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased and the proinflammatory cytokine C-reactive protein and lipopolysaccharides decreased. Metagenomics results showed that the increase of B. animalis was correlated with an increase in defecation frequency. Fatty acid biosynthesis and bile acid biosynthesis in stool samples as well as carnitine shuttle, vitamin E metabolism, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism were identified as significantly altered metabolic pathways. Acylcarnitine, located on the carnitine shuttle pathway, had a significantly positive correlation with defecation frequency. It was speculated that PFM may contribute to alleviating constipation symptoms through 3 potential mechanisms: fine-tuning gastrointestinal microbiota, fighting inflammation, and regulating metabolic pathways.

Correlation of various serum biomarkers with the severity of diabetic retinopathy

Hyperglycemia induced inflammation and angiogenic factors are implicated as a contributor to the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (T2DM). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are inflammatory cytokines which induce retinal VEGF and are involved in the progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Therefore the aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between diabetic retinopathy and systemic inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and methodsPatients with T2DM, with or without diabetic retinopathy were included in the study. Serum inflammatory cytokines, vascular growth factor were studied in different stages of DR. ResultsPatients with T2DM with and without diabetic retinopathy were compared. Patients with diabetic retinopathy had increased serum levels of inflammatory cytokines CRP, TNF-alpha, as well as VEGF compared to serum levels of diabetic patients without retinopathy. ConclusionT2DM patients with retinopathy have higher levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines and VEGF compared to patients without retinopathy. These proinflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors are involved in the progression of DR and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The results showed the importance of inflammation and vascular endothelial growth factor in the progression of NPDR and PDR.

Structural brain changes and all-cause mortality in the elderly population-the mediating role of inflammation.

While MRI brain changes have been relatedto mortality during ageing, the role of inflammation in this relationship remains poorly understood. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the impact of MRI changes on all-cause mortality and the mediating role of cytokines. All-cause mortality was evaluated in 268 community dwelling elderly (age 65-83years) in the MEMO study (Memory and Morbidity in Augsburg elderly). MRI markers of brain atrophy and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), C-reactive protein(CRP) and a panel of cytokines in serum were assessed. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the association of MRI changes with survival over 9years. Regression models were used to assess the hypothesis that inflammation is mediating the relationship between MRI-brain changes and mortality. In total, 77 (29%) deaths occurred during a mean follow up of 9years. After adjusting for confounders, the degree of global cortical atrophy and the level of the cytokines CRP, TNF-α and IL-8 were of higher significance in study participants who had died at follow-up in comparison to survivors. In Cox proportional hazard models, higher degrees of global cortical atrophy (HR 1.56, p=0.003) and regional atrophy of the temporal lobe (HR 1.38, p=0.011) were associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality. Mediation analyses revealed a partial mediation by IL-6 and IL-8 of the effects of global cortical atrophy on mortality. Global cortical brain atrophy is a significant indicator of survival in the elderly. Our study supports a possible role for inflammation in the atrophy pathogenesis. If replicated in other samples, IL-6 and IL-8 level assessment may improve risk prognosis for mortality.

The effects of ibuprofen on sepsis parameters in preterm neonates

AimTo examine the effects of ibuprofen used for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) treatment on the production of the proinflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in preterm septic newborns. MethodsPatients with acute phase reactant elevation were divided into two groups according to receiving ibuprofen (Group I, n=51) or not (Group II, n=38). Course of sepsis was evaluated by CRP and IL-6 levels. ResultsCRP and IL-6 levels at the time of diagnosis were not different between two groups [16±9.1 vs 16.4±13.2mg/dL (p=0.43) for CRP and 124±82 vs 119±73mg/dL (p=0.517) for IL-6, respectively]. Similarly, they were statistically insignificant between the groups at the 2nd or 3rd days of ibuprofen treatment [14.3±7.7 vs 13.7±5.9mg/dL (p=0.21) for CRP and 83±46 vs 86±37mg/dL (p=0.29) for IL-6, respectively]. However, CRP and IL6 levels showed significant difference between groups in the following days; 6.03±3.8 vs 9.1±4.9mg/dL (p=0.025) for CRP and 42±33.1 vs 58.9±27.1mg/dL (0.011) for IL-6 on 4th or 5th days of treatment and 2.3±3.2 vs 4.1±2.3mg/dL (p=0.032) for CRP and 16.1±12.4 vs 21.3±16.8mg/dL (p=0.016) for IL-6, on 7th to 10th days of treatment, respectively. ConclusionsIL-6 and CRP may decrease in infants receiving ibuprofen treatment more than infants who do not receive it. This decrease should be considered at the time of caring a preterm infant with both sepsis and PDA after ibuprofen treatment.

Influence of Prophylactic, Endovascularly Based Normothermia on Inflammation in Patients With Severe Cerebrovascular Disease

We analyzed the impact of long-term endovascularly based prophylactic normothermia versus conventional temperature management on inflammatory parameters in patients with severe cerebrovascular disease. This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing the course of inflammatory parameters between the 2 treatment arms: (1) prophylactically endovascular long-term normothermia; and (2) conventional, stepwise fever management with antiinflammatory drugs and surface cooling. Inclusion criteria were (1) spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage with Hunt-Hess grade between 3 and 5; (2) spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of ≤ 10; or (3) complicated cerebral infarction requiring intensive care unit treatment with a NIH Stroke Scale score of ≥ 15. Treatment period was 336 hours in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients and 168 hours in patients with complicated stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage patients. A total of 102 patients (56 female) were enrolled during a 3.5-year period. Overall median total fever burden during the course of treatment was 0.0°C hour and 4.3°C hours in the catheter and conventional group, respectively (P < 0.0001). C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were significantly elevated in the endovascular group (P < 0.05). Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, used as additional treatment of fever, significantly reduced mean C-reactive protein in endovascular treated patients (P < 0.01). The proinflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were significantly elevated in patients receiving prophylactic endovascularly based long-term normothermia. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs significantly affected the course of proinflammatory parameters; thus, future trials should investigate the role of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in severe cerebrovascular disease patients and their interaction with temperature management. Clinical Trial Registration-Trial not registered; enrollment began before July 2005.

Differences in postprandial inflammatory responses to a ‘modern’ v. traditional meat meal: a preliminary study

A low-grade inflammatory response ('metaflammation') has been found to be associated with certain chronic diseases. Proposed inducers of this have been aspects of the modern lifestyle, including newly introduced foods. Plasma TAG, and the inflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-alpha and IL-6 were compared in a randomised, cross-over trial using ten healthy subjects before and after eating 100 g of kangaroo, or a 'new' form of hybridised beef (wagyu) separated by about 1 week. Postprandial levels for 1 and 2 h of TAG, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were significantly higher after eating wagyu compared with kangaroo (P = 0.002 for TAG at 1 h, P < 0.001 at 2 h; P < 0.001 for IL-6 and TNF-alpha at 1 and 2 h). CRP was significantly higher 1 h postprandially after wagyu (P = 0.011) and non-significantly higher 2 h postprandially (P = 0.090). We conclude that the metaflammatory reaction to ingestion of a 'new' form of hybridised beef (wagyu) is indicative of a low-grade, systemic, immune reaction when compared with lean game meat (kangaroo). Further studies using isoenergetic intake and isolating fatty acid components of meats are proposed.

Progressive Exercise for Anabolism in Kidney Disease (PEAK)

Skeletal muscle wasting is common and insidious in patients who receive maintenance hemodialysis treatment for the management of ESRD. The objective of this study was to determine whether 12 wk of high-intensity, progressive resistance training (PRT) administered during routine hemodialysis treatment could improve skeletal muscle quantity and quality versus usual care. Forty-nine patients (62.6 +/- 14.2 yr; 0.3 to 16.7 yr on dialysis) were recruited from the outpatient hemodialysis unit of the St. George Public Hospital (Sydney, Australia). Patients were randomized to PRT + usual care (n = 24) or usual care control only (n = 25). The PRT group performed two sets of 10 exercises at a high intensity (15 to 17/20 on the Borg Scale) using free weights, three times per week for 12 wk during routine hemodialysis treatment. Primary outcomes included thigh muscle quantity (cross-sectional area [CSA]) and quality (intramuscular lipid content via attenuation) evaluated by computed tomography scan. Secondary outcomes included muscle strength, exercise capacity, body circumference measures, proinflammatory cytokine C-reactive protein, and quality of life. There was no statistically significant difference in muscle CSA change between groups. However, there were statistically significant improvements in muscle attenuation, muscle strength, mid-thigh and mid-arm circumference, body weight, and C-reactive protein in the PRT group relative to the nonexercising control group. These findings suggest that patients with ESRD can improve skeletal muscle quality and derive other health-related adaptations solely by engaging in a 12-wk high-intensity PRT regimen during routine hemodialysis treatment sessions. Longer training durations or more sensitive analysis techniques may be required to document alterations in muscle CSA.

PR_155: Antioxidant Supplementation Lowers Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Young Overweight Adults

Objective: To determine whether combined oral antioxidant supplementation can reduce postexercise oxidative stress and effects of contributors to oxidative stress (inflammation, blood lipids) in overweight young adults. Design: Randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Setting: Not provided. Participants: Overweight (body mass index [BMI], 33.2±1.9kg/m2) and comparative normal weight (BMI, 21.9±0.5kg/m2) adults aged 18 to 30 years (N=48) were provided a dietary intervention. Intervention: 8 weeks of daily antioxidant treatment (vitamin E, 800IU; vitamin, 500mg; beta-carotene, 10mg) or matched placebo. After fitness testing, all subjects completed a standardized 30-minute cycle exercise bout before and after the intervention period. Main Outcome Measures: Cycle exercise-induced changes in lipid peroxidation (ΔPEROX), inflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 (ΔIL-6), and adiponectin, total cholesterol, cholesterol subfractions, and total antioxidant status (ΔTAS) at baseline and 8 weeks. Results: Exercise-induced ΔPEROX was significantly lower in the overweight antioxidant treatment group (.09nmol·kg−1·min−1) compared with placebo-treated overweight and normal weight groups (.98 and .53nmol·kg−1·min−1) by 8 weeks (P<.05). Adiponectin was increased in both overweight and normal weight antioxidant treatment groups, with the greater increase in the normal weight group at 8 weeks (22.1% vs 3.1%, P<.05), whereas adiponectin was reduced in both placebo groups. ΔIL-6, Δtotal cholesterol, and Δlow-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) concentrations during exercise were lower in both the antioxidant treatment groups compared with placebo groups (all P<.05). After controlling for BMI, Δtotal cholesterol, ΔLDL-C, Δadiponectin, and ΔTAS explained 59.1% of the variance of the regression model of the ΔPEROX by 8 weeks (total regression model R2=.600, P=.015). Conclusions: Antioxidant treatment supplementation is effective in lowering exercise-induced oxidative stress and, potentially, contributors to oxidative stress, more so in overweight adults. Inflammatory and lipid markers may also be attenuated with antioxidant treatment. Longer and larger studies are needed to determine whether antioxidant treatment may be used in cardiovascular disease prevention in the overweight population.

Adiponectin and Arterial Stiffness

Adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory adipocytokine, is reduced in hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease (CAD). Arterial stiffness, as aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in hypertension and diabetes, and as augmentation index (AIx) in CAD, is independently associated with cardiovascular mortality. We explored the relationship between adiponectin and arterial stiffness in essential hypertension. Seventy-six untreated patients, 34 women, aged 47 +/- 1 years, mean +/- SEM with essential hypertension, had blood pressure (BP), carotid-femoral PWV, AIx plasma adiponectin, and proinflammatory cytokine C-reactive protein (CRP) measured using ELISA technique after an overnight fast. Results were analyzed using univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. There was a significant positive relationship between log adiponectin and AIx (r = 0.33, P < .005) and plasma HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.40, P < .001). In contrast there were significant negative relationships with PWV (r = -0.24, P < .05), transit time (r = -0.37, P < .001), and pulse pressure amplification (r = -0.30, P < .005) in addition to waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, height, and weight. In a stepwise regression model, the independent predictors of AIx were heart rate, height, mean arterial pressure, age, and gender (R2= 0.69, P < .0001) with no contribution from adiponectin. However, for PWV (R2= 0.59, P < .0001) the independent determinants were mean arterial pressure, age, and adiponectin. These results show a divergent relationship between adiponectin and arterial stiffness, negative for PWV, and positive for wave reflection (AIx). Anthropomorphic factors, particularly height, weight, and heart rate may influence the relationship to the latter. Adiponectin is an independent predictor of aortic PWV but not of AIx.

The role of total and high-molecular-weight complex of adiponectin in vascular function in offspring whose parents both had type 2 diabetes

Adiponectin is an adipokine with insulin-sensitising and anti-atherogenic properties. We studied the role played by total adiponectin and by the bioactive high-molecular-weight (HMW) oligomeric complexes of adiponectin in vascular function in offspring whose parents both had type 2 diabetes, a population at high risk of diabetes and atherosclerosis. Total and %HMW adiponectin, the cytokines C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), as well as lipid profiles were assayed in 19 offspring, each with two type 2 diabetic parents. Subjects underwent OGTTs and IVGTTs. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) was assessed by brachial artery ultrasonography. There was a significant relationship between %HMW and total adiponectin levels (r=0.72, p=0.001). Despite an expected strong positive correlation between HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin levels (r=0.52, p=0.04), as well as HDL-cholesterol and EDV (r=0.56, p<0.02), there was no significant relationship between either total adiponectin or % HMW adiponectin and EDV. Adiponectin was inversely associated with PAI-1 (r=0.50, p=0.05), but did not correlate with the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein or interleukin-6. In offspring of diabetic parents, a population at high risk of diabetes and atherosclerotic disease, there is no relationship between total or %HMW adiponectin and endothelium-dependent vasodilation. However, low adiponectin was associated with impaired fibrinolysis as manifested by increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.

Relationship of obesity and visceral adiposity with serum concentrations of CRP, TNF-α and IL-6

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum concentrations of the cytokines C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6, and obesity and visceral adiposity. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 Korean adults free from pre-existing inflammatory disease or cancer was performed. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and serum concentrations of CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were measured. In 46 obese subjects, fat mass was assessed by bioimpedance analysis and abdominal fat distribution was determined by computerized tomography scan. Results: Overall, serum concentrations of CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly correlated with weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-hip ratio. In obese subjects, CRP and IL-6 were significantly correlated with BMI, waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue. Multiple regression analysis showed that CRP was significantly associated with BMI, whereas IL-6 was significantly related with visceral adiposity in obese subjects. Conclusions: The positive associations of obesity and visceral adiposity with elevated cytokine levels suggest the importance of reducing obesity and visceral adiposity to prevent elevations in cytokine levels.