[Characteristics of immune system in patients with metabolic syndrome]

To characterize features of immune status in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS).

41 MS patients entered the study (mean age 55.9 +/- 9.7 years). Blood free triiodthyronine (T3f), thyroxine (T4f), TTH, antibodies to thyroglobulin (abTG), thyroid peroxidase (AbTP) were studied with enzyme immunoassay; levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD72+ were studied with monoclonal antibodies; IgG, IgA, IgM were measured by radial immunodiffusion in gel by Manchini. The size and the structure of the thyroid were investigated with ultrasound.

Thyroid pathology was in 48.8% patients with MS, chronic infectious diseases (CID)--in 51.2%. MS patients free of thyroid pathology and CID had elevated blood levels of IgG, IgA, dysimmunoglobulinemia and low relative number of CD3+ lymphocytes, close correlations of T3free with the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, T4free with CD72+ (r = -0.97 to +0.92), T4free with IgA, IgG (r = -0.96, r = -0.90), TTH and IgA (r = -0.89), weak negative correlations of uric acid with the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD72+ and positive with CD8+, CD16+, immunoglobulins. Combination of MS with thyroid pathology and/or CID was characterized with aggravated defects in T- and B-cell immunity, fall in IgG, IgA and changed direction of correlations of thyroid and immune statuses.

Immune status in MS patients was characterized by stimulation of humoral immunity, dysimmunoglobulinemia, T-cell immunity deficiency. This may be related to chronic hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, antigenic stimulation with modified lipoproteins. Thyroid hormones levels positively correlate with concentrations of immunocytes and negatively--with immunoglobulins.