NF-kappaB binding activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression correlate with body mass index but not glycosylated hemoglobin in Chinese population.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic inflammation is linked to type 2 diabetes (T2DM), so we investigated correlations between obesity, blood glucose levels, and inflammation in T2DM patients.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 40 T2DM patients (27 men, 13 women; mean age 49.63 years), and 10 non-diabetic controls (all men; mean age 38.60 years). Inflammation was measured as DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), a key transcription factor in inflammation. Protein levels of NF-kappaB subunit p65, and NF-kappaB inhibitor IkappaBalpha were assessed by Western blot. Transcript levels for p65, IkappaBalpha, and the NF-kappaB target genes TNF-alpha, MMP-9, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18 were measured by real-time PCR. Body mass index (BMI) and glycohemoglobin were measured for all the subjects.


RESULTS
NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity, p65 and IkappaBalpha protein levels, and expression of IL-6, TNFalpha and MMP-9 were significantly higher in PBMCs from T2DM patients, than from non-diabetic controls. NF-kappaB binding was significantly positively associated with both BMI and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).


CONCLUSIONS
Inflammation was observed in PBMCs in T2DM patients in a Chinese population, and correlated independently with obesity and blood glucose levels. Lack of correlation with glycohemoglobin suggested that moderate-term blood glucose control did not mitigate inflammation.
He
Lan
L
Department of Rheumatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China. helanxjtu@gmail.com
He
Ming
M
Lv
Xiaohong
X
Pu
Dan
D
Su
Peihe
P
Liu
Zhiquan
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C508600:IL6 protein, human; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human