Relationships of complement components C3 and C4 and their genetics to cardiometabolic risk in healthy, non-Hispanic

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Melanie M Copenhaver1, Chack-Yung Yu2, Danlei Zhou2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.

Pediatric Research
|August 13, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Complement C3 and C4 levels are linked to increased cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Higher C3 correlates with obesity, while C4 impacts HDL and inflammation, highlighting complement

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • The complement system plays a role in inflammation and immunity.
  • Complement activation may influence cardiometabolic risk.
  • Adolescent health is a critical period for establishing long-term cardiovascular and metabolic well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between complement components C3 and C4 and cardiometabolic risk markers.
  • To examine these relationships in a cohort of healthy non-Hispanic white adolescents.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed anthropometric measures (BMI, waist circumference, body fat).
  • Evaluated arterial stiffness and endothelial function.
  • Measured lipids, inflammatory markers, glucose metabolism, and complement levels.
  • Genotyped C3 polymorphism and C4 gene copy number variations.

Main Results:

  • Elevated C3 plasma levels correlated with increased obesity markers.
  • Higher C3 and C4 levels were associated with poorer endothelial function.
  • C3 levels related to lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity, though partially mediated by body habitus.
  • C4 showed negative associations with HDL and positive associations with inflammatory markers.
  • C3F allele carriers had higher BMI and fat mass index.
  • HDL levels were significantly associated with C4 gene copy number variations.

Conclusions:

  • C3 levels increase with body mass in adolescents.
  • Elevated C4 levels and copy number variations are linked to heightened cardiometabolic risk.
  • These findings suggest a role for complement in adolescent cardiometabolic health.
Abstract

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