title: Interleukin-17 regulates visceral obesity in HIV-1-infected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the interleukin-17 (IL-17) plasma level in HIV-1-infected patients and its relation to central obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four HIV-1-infected patients [42 with visceral obesity (group A) and 42 without visceral obesity (group B)] and 46 HIV-negative subjects [23 with visceral obesity (group C) and 23 without visceral obesity (group D)] were enrolled in the study. Sonographic measurements of perirenal fat diameter/body mass index (PRFD/BMI) were used to assess visceral adipose tissue thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV-1-infected patients had higher plasma levels of IL-17 than HIV-negative subjects [837.8 ± 260 pg/mL (mean ± standard deviation) vs. 395.3 ± 138.6 pg/mL, respectively; P<0.001]. Furthermore, HIV-1-infected patients with a diagnosis of visceral obesity had lower levels of IL-17 than HIV-infected lean patients (756.9 ± 282.9 pg/mL vs. 918.7 ± 208.4 pg/mL, respectively; P<0.01). IL-17 (r= -0.21; P=0.03) and waist circumference (r=0.48; P<0.001) were significantly associated with visceral adipose tissue thickness. A negative correlation of IL-17 (r= -0.23; P<0.001) with PRFD/BMI was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests a linear negative association between IL-17 and visceral adipose tissue thickness.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Lecce, Italy. zizza@ifc.cnr.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zizza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D020381:Interleukin-17