Elevated serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-4 and chronic inflammation in overweight subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic inflammation observed in obesity has been reported to be implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. We screened candidate chemokines that link chronic inflammation and obesity.


METHODS
Japanese overweight (n = 39, BMI 28.7 +/- 0.65 kg/m(2)) and normal-weight (n = 24, BMI 22.3 +/- 0.45 kg/m(2)) subjects were enrolled. Using antibody-based protein microarray, spot intensities of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-4, eotaxin, and eotaxin-2 correlated with anthropometric parameters. We further measured serum concentration of these chemokines and mRNA levels in adipose tissues obtained from volunteers.


RESULTS
Serum MCP-4 levels showed positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.318, p = 0.014), waist (r = 0.316, p = 0.018), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r = 0.264, p = 0.049). Furthermore, MCP-4 correlated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (r = 0.392, p = 0.002), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (r = 0.350, p = 0.006). In step-wise multiple regression analyses, hsCRP independently correlated with MCP-4 levels. The expression of MCP-4 mRNA in visceral adipose tissue positively correlates with BMI. Serum eotaxin levels correlate with BMI (r = 0.262, p = 0.045) and WHR (r = 0.383, p = 0.003). Serum eotaxin-2 levels correlated with BMI (r = 0.464, p < 0.001), waist (r = 0.333, p = 0.017), and WHR (r = 0.278, p = 0.048). However, eotaxin and eotaxin-2 levels did not show significant correlation with hsCRP.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of MCP-4, eotaxin, and eotaxin-2, which belong to CC chemokine family and share CC chemokine receptor 3, correlated with BMI. These chemokines, especially MCP-4, may be critical molecules that link obesity and chronic inflammation.
Hashimoto
Izumi
I
Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
Wada
Jun
J
Hida
Aya
A
Baba
Masako
M
Miyatake
Nobuyuki
N
Eguchi
Jun
J
Shikata
Kenichi
K
Makino
Hirofumi
H
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D054423:Chemokine CCL24; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D007564:Japan; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
C515456:CCL11 protein, human; C099677:CCL13 protein, human; C515484:CCL24 protein, human; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D054423:Chemokine CCL24; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D016207:Cytokines; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002097:C-Reactive Protein