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Increased activity of interleukin-23/interleukin-17 proinflammatory axis in obese women

International Journal of Obesity volume 33, pages 151–156 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To compare the concentrations of cytokines belonging to Th17 axis (interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23) and Th1 axis (IL-12 and interferon (IFN)-γ) in obese and lean women, and to investigate their relationships with the proinflammatory adipokine leptin, proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and anthropometric and metabolic parameters of obesity.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Subjects:

Twenty-six obese women (age 20–52 years, body mass index (BMI): 30–48 kg/m2) and 20 healthy lean women (age 23–46 years, BMI: 18–25 kg/m2).

Measurements:

Plasma levels of cytokines and leptin, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and insulin resistance index HOMA (homeostatic model assessment).

Results:

Blood concentrations of IL-17, IL-23, MIF and leptin, but not IL-12 or IFN-γ, were higher in obese compared with lean women (P=0.002, 0.046, 0.006 and 0.002, respectively). There was a positive correlation between IL-17 and IL-23 (rs=0.530), which was at the border of statistical significance (P=0.065). Neither IL-17 nor IL-23 correlated with leptin or MIF, and there was no association between IL-17 and IL-23 levels with BMI, WC or HOMA index.

Conclusion:

Interleukin-23/IL-17 axis is stimulated in obese women independently of the increase in abdominal fat, insulin resistance, leptin and MIF levels.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (Grants no. 145067, 145073 and 145003). We are immensely grateful to late Professor Vojin Sulovic for his kind support.

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Author notes

  1. M Sumarac-Dumanovic and D Stevanovic: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    M Sumarac-Dumanovic, M Simic, D Stamenkovic-Pejkovic & D Micic

  2. Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    D Stevanovic & V Starcevic

  3. Institute for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

    A Ljubic

  4. Department of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    J Jorga

  5. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    V Trajkovic

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  1. M Sumarac-Dumanovic
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Correspondence to V Trajkovic or D Micic.

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Sumarac-Dumanovic, M., Stevanovic, D., Ljubic, A. et al. Increased activity of interleukin-23/interleukin-17 proinflammatory axis in obese women. Int J Obes 33, 151–156 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.216

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.216

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