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TH17 Cell Frequency in Peripheral Blood Is Elevated in Overweight Children without Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

Theresa Isabell Schindler1, Johanna-Josophina Wagner1,2, Sybelle Goedicke-Fritz1,3

  • 1Children's Hospital, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.

Frontiers in Immunology
|December 5, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity is linked to higher T helper 17 (TH17) cell frequencies and increased expression of RORC and IL-17A mRNA. These findings suggest obesity independently influences TH17 immunity in children.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Childhood obesity prevalence has surged, correlating with chronic inflammatory diseases.
  • Adipose tissue releases IL-6 and TNF-α, promoting T helper 17 (TH17) cell differentiation.
  • TH17 cells are defined by RORC expression and IL-17A production; murine models show increased TH17 cells in obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between overweight status and TH17 cell frequency in children.
  • To determine if overweight children exhibit elevated messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of IL-17A and RORC.
  • To explore these associations in children without pre-existing chronic inflammatory conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Peripheral blood samples were collected from 15 overweight and 50 non-overweight children.
  • TH17 cells were quantified via flow cytometry using intracellular IL-17A staining after Ionomycin stimulation.
  • RORC and IL-17A mRNA expression levels were measured using real-time PCR.

Main Results:

  • Overweight children showed significantly higher TH17 cell frequencies (34.7% vs 25.4%, p=0.0023).
  • TH17 cell frequency positively correlated with body mass index (r=0.42, p=0.0005).
  • Relative mRNA expression of RORC (p=0.013) and IL-17A (p=0.014) was upregulated in overweight children.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood obesity is an independent factor associated with elevated circulating TH17 cells.
  • Higher RORC and IL-17A mRNA expression in overweight children may stem from adipose tissue's inflammatory activity.
  • Future studies on TH17 immunity should account for overweight status, not just inflammatory diseases.
Abstract

Keywords:
IL-17ATH17 cellschildreninflammationoverweightreceptor-related orphan receptor C

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