ESPE Abstracts

Background: Childhood obesity has increased in epidemic proportions worldwide. Growing evidence confirms persistent low-grade systemic inflammation in obese individuals. It eventually leads to insulin resistance and endothelial damage, thus setting the ground for the development of metabolic and vascular complications.

Aim: To investigate metabolic and inflammatory parameters and their relationship in obese children, by analyzing laboratory data and peripheral blood chemokine/chemokine receptor profile.

Materials and methods: Mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy controls (n=29, 14 M, age 15.46 +/- 1.51 years) and obese children (n=34, 19 M, age 14,69 +/- 1.60 years). B-cell (CD19+), T-cell (CD3+), and monocyte (CD14+) phenotypes were determined using flow cytometry for the chemokine receptors CCR2, CCR4, CXCR3, and CXCR4. Chemokines CCL2, CCL5, CXCL10 were determined using a bead-based immunoassay (LEGENDplex™, BioLegend) and CXCL12 was analyzed by ELISA. Chemokine levels and chemokine expressing cell populations were correlated with clinical parameters (age, body mass index, blood pressure), parameters of metabolic complications (HOMA-IR, ALT, lipid profile), and inflammation (CRP and fibrinogen).

Results: Obese children had higher concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP and fibrinogen), as well as parameters of metabolic complications (higher ALT, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HOMA IR, lower HDL-cholesterol). In this group, we found a decrease of CCR4 and CXCR3 expressing monocyte subpopulation and a lower concentration of CXCL12. CRP and fibrinogen showed a strong positive correlation with metabolic parameters. CXCR3 expressing monocytes showed a negative correlation with CRP, fibrinogen, ALT, LDL-cholesterol, and HOMA-IR, while CCR4 expressing monocytes positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol, DBP and negatively with HOMA-IR and triglycerides. We also found a positive correlation between CCR2 expressing B-cells and HDL-cholesterol and CCR4 expressing B cells and DBP. CCL2 positively correlated with ALT and triglycerides.

Conclusion: Obesity is associated with alterations in systemic inflammatory parameters and metabolic complications even at a young age. Identifying and targeting inflammatory molecules might be a potent therapeutic option for preventing obesity-related morbidity and mortality.