Plasma IL-6 concentration is inversely related to insulin sensitivity, and acute-phase proteins associate with glucose and lipid metabolism in healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
It has been shown that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Recent data suggest that inflammation precedes type 2 diabetes. Hence, we wanted to study the interrelationship between IL-6, insulin sensitivity, lipids and numerous acute-phase proteins.


METHODS
Twenty-one healthy individuals [16 males/5 females, age 27.9+/-1.8 years, body mass index (BMI) 24.1+/-0.8 kg/m(2)] participated in the study. Each patient went through a 4-h hyperinsulinaemic (40 mU/m(2)/min) euglycaemic clamp and 4-h saline infusion. Blood samples were taken before and at the end of the infusions.


RESULTS
Plasma interleukin (IL)-6 concentration correlated inversely with insulin sensitivity (M-value) (r=-0.49, p<0.05). Moreover, the plasma levels of IL-6 associated with c-peptide (r=0.49, p<0.05), fat% (r=0.43, p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.46, p<0.05). alpha-1-acid glycoprotein was related to HbA1(c) (r=0.47, p<0.05), insulin (r=0.55, p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.58, p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (r=0.58, p<0.01) and triglycerides (r=0.58, p<0.01). Haptoglobin was correlated with insulin (r=0.46, p<0.05), total cholesterol (r=0.61, p<0.01), BMI (r=0.58, p<0.01), fat% (r=0.63, p<0.01) and lipid oxidation during clamp (r=0.43, p<0.05). Diastolic blood pressure decreased during the clamp (from 78.3+/-1.9 to 72.1+/-2.0 mmHg, p=0.001). Insulin infusion did not affect the serum levels of most acute-phase proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that low grade inflammation, as reflected by IL-6, A1GP and haptoglobin contributes to the regulation of insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism and blood pressure in normal human physiology.
Heliövaara
M K
MK
Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. maikki.heliovaara@hus.fi
Teppo
A-M
AM
Karonen
S L
SL
Tuominen
J A
JA
Ebeling
P
P
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003176:Complement C3; D006242:Haptoglobins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008055:Lipids; D009961:Orosomucoid