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Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation
Published on: April 3, 2017
Circulating mononuclear cells in the obese are in a proinflammatory state
Husam Ghanim1, Ahmad Aljada, Deborah Hofmeyer
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY, USA.
Circulation
|September 15, 2004
Summary
Obesity triggers a proinflammatory state in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC), characterized by increased nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity and elevated inflammatory gene expression. This inflammation is linked to insulin resistance and modulated by free fatty acids (FFAs).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Metabolic Disease Research
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Obesity is associated with elevated plasma levels of pro-inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP).
- Investigating the inflammatory status of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) in obese individuals is crucial for understanding obesity-related complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from obese subjects exhibit a pro-inflammatory state.
- To explore the relationship between inflammatory mediators, body mass index (BMI), free fatty acids (FFAs), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in obesity.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were isolated from obese and normal-weight control subjects.
- Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) binding activity and inhibitor of NF-kappaB-beta (IkappaB-beta) levels were assessed.
- mRNA expression of inflammatory genes (MIF, IL-6, TNF-alpha, MMP-9) and plasma levels of these mediators were quantified using RT-PCR and other assays.
- Plasma glucose, insulin, FFAs, and HOMA-IR were measured.
Main Results:
- Obese subjects showed significantly elevated NF-kappaB binding and reduced IkappaB-beta in MNC.
- Increased mRNA expression of MIF, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and MMP-9 was observed in MNC from obese individuals.
- Plasma concentrations of MIF, IL-6, TNF-alpha, MMP-9, and CRP were significantly higher in the obese group.
- Plasma FFAs correlated with BMI, IL-6/TNF-alpha mRNA, and plasma CRP, while inflammatory mediators were linked to BMI and HOMA-IR.
Conclusions:
- MNC in obesity are in a pro-inflammatory state, evidenced by increased NF-kappaB activation and inflammatory gene transcription.
- Plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) play a role in modulating inflammation in obesity.
- Insulin resistance is significantly associated with inflammatory mediators in obese individuals.
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