title: Body mass index is not associated with cytokine induction during experimental human endotoxemia.
abstract: A higher body mass index (BMI) appears to be associated with lower mortality in critically ill patients, possibly explained by an altered innate immune response. However, the precise relationship between BMI and the innate immune response in humans in vivo is unknown. We investigated the relationship between BMI and the systemic cytokine response during experimental human endotoxemia. Endotoxemia was induced in 112 healthy male volunteers by intravenous administration of 2 ng/kg Escherichia coli endotoxin. Plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-1RA were serially determined. The relationship between BMI and the cytokine response, as well as body temperature, was investigated. The BMIs of the participants ranged from 18.3 to 33.6 kg/m(2), (median: 22.7 kg/m(2)). All participants showed a marked increase in plasma cytokine levels [median (interquartile range)] peak levels: TNF-α 509 (353-673) pg/ml; IL-6 757 (522-1098) pg/ml; IL-10 271 (159-401) pg/ml; IL-1RA 4882 (3927-6025) pg/ml; and an increase in body temperature [1.8(1.4-2.2)] during endotoxemia. No significant correlations were found between BMI and levels of any of the cytokines or body temperature. No relationship between BMI and the cytokine response was found in healthy volunteers subjected to experimental endotoxemia. These data question the relationship between BMI and cytokine responses in critical illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lucas T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: van Eijk
authors.forename: Rob W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: van der Pluijm
authors.forename: Bart Pc
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Ramakers
authors.forename: Mirrin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dorresteijn
authors.forename: Johannes G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: van der Hoeven
authors.forename: Matthijs
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kox
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pickkers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001831:Body Temperature; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides
keywords: Body mass index; endotoxemia; healthy volunteers; inflammation; obesity