IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels in healthy weight and overweight children.
OBJECTIVE
In adults, studies have shown that obesity is a chronic low-grade inflammatory state characterized by altered levels of cytokines. Studies in children have mainly focused on C-reactive protein and adiponectin, and there is limited data for other inflammatory markers in healthy weight and overweight children. The aim of this study was to measure IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels in healthy normal weight and overweight children at 8 and 15 years.


METHODS
118 normal weight and overweight children (59 boys) from the Nepean longitudinal study were recruited at age 8 years and followed up at 15 years. Serum IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels were measured at both time-points.


RESULTS
At 8 years, we found no significant differences in cytokine levels between normal weight and overweight (owt)/obese (ob) groups. However, at 15 years, owt/ob girls (n = 23) had higher levels of IL-6 (p = 0.04), IL-8 (p = 0.04) and IL-10 (p = 0.03) compared to normal weight girls (n = 36), even after adjustment for puberty; no differences were seen in boys.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of obesity on IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels vary with age and sex, with owt/ob girls at 15 years showing raised IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels compared to healthy weight girls.
Tam
Charmaine S
CS
Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia. charmait@chw.edu.au
Garnett
Sarah P
SP
Cowell
Christopher T
CT
Heilbronn
Leonie K
LK
Lee
Jennifer W
JW
Wong
Melanie
M
Baur
Louise A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011627:Puberty; D012737:Sex Factors
D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016753:Interleukin-10