title: Early activation of vascular endothelial cells and platelets in obese children.
abstract: Obesity in adulthood is combined with vascular endothelial cell and platelet activation. In this study we evaluated whether or not such activation is already present in obese children. Forty obese (10.3 +/- 2.5 yr) and 40 nonobese (10.3 +/- 2.3 yr) children were studied. Circulating levels of soluble (s) intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin, as indices of vascular endothelial cell activation, were assessed in both groups. Plasma concentrations of sP-selectin and sCD40 ligand, as indices of platelet activation, were also measured. Circulating levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the lipid peroxidation product 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG)F(2alpha) were evaluated because of their ability to promote vascular endothelial cell and platelet activation. Circulating levels of all of the assessed markers were higher in obese than in nonobese children (sICAM-1, +38.8 +/- 13.3%; sVCAM-1, +26.5 +/- 13.7%; sE-selectin, +31.3 +/- 17.3%; sP-selectin, +31.7 +/- 16.9%; sCD40 ligand, +36.9 +/- 22.1%; total 8-iso-PGF(2alpha), +24.0 +/- 20.2%; hs-CRP, +76.6 +/- 12.9%; P < 0.0001). Significant correlations (P < 0.004) between plasma total 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels and circulating sICAM-1 (r = 0.485), sVCAM-1 (r = 0.506), sP-selectin (r = 0.449), sCD40 ligand (r = 0.498), and hs-CRP (r = 0.520) concentrations were found in obese children. In conclusion, an early activation of vascular endothelial cells and platelets was present in obese children. Increased lipid peroxidation was also present in these children and likely contributed to the observed proinflammatory phenotype.
authors.affiliation: University of L'Aquila, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, Piazzale Salvatore Tommasi n.1, 67100 Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy. giovambattista.desideri@cc.univaq.it
authors.forename: Giovambattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desideri
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iughetti
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosato
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Iezzi
authors.forename: Maria Contina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marinucci
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cofini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passacquale
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Necozione
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D019040:E-Selectin; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1