title: Elevated serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-4 and chronic inflammation in overweight subjects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hida
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyatake
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shikata
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makino
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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